Ginger Blueberry Pear Crisp

Ginger Blueberry Pear Crisp

recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
yield 4-6 servings Via hungryrabbitnyc.com

Ingredients

2 tablespoons dried blueberry
2 tablespoons Canton (ginger liquor)
3/4 cup almonds (3 ounces)
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (2-1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar (1-3/4 ounces)
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons chopped crystalized ginger
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1-2 teaspoon cornstarch, depends on the juiciness of pears
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon  lemon juice, freshly squeezed
3 pounds ripe but firm bartlett pears (6-7 medium)

Directions

1. Combine blueberries and ginger liquor in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave on medium power for a minute. Remove from microwave, set aside and cool, with cover on, for 15 minutes.

2. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 400℉.

3. Pulse almonds, flour, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, ground ginger, crystallized ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in food processor until nuts are finely chopped, about 10-15 seconds. Drizzle butter over flour mixture and pulse until mixture resembles crumbly wet sand, about 5 seconds. Set aside while preparing fruit.

4. Whisk remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, cornstarch, fresh ginger, lemon juice, and pinch of salt together in large bowl. Peel pears, then halve and core. Cut each half into 1-inch chunks. Gently toss pears, blueberries and it’s soaking liquid with sugar mixture and divide among 4-6 small baking dishes or a 8-inch square baking dish.

5. Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit, breaking up any large chunks. Bake until fruit is bubbling around edges and topping is deep golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool on wire rack until warm, at least 15 minutes, and serve.