Gilded Pear & Saffron Pearls with Candied Lavender

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the pear spheres: Peel, core, and halve the pears. Using a melon baller, scoop out small spheres from the firm flesh of the pears. Set aside.

   ~15 min
2. 2

   Infuse the pear syrup: In a saucepan, combine 100g of granulated sugar, 100ml of water, and saffron threads. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Let it simmer for 10 minutes to allow the saffron to infuse. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl, discarding the saffron threads. Stir in the lemon juice. Allow to cool slightly.

   ~20 min
3. 3

   Poach the pear spheres: Gently place the pear spheres into the warm saffron syrup. Simmer very gently for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pears are tender but still hold their shape. Be careful not to overcook.

   ~25 min
4. 4

   Prepare the agar-agar gel: In a small saucepan, whisk together the remaining 100g granulated sugar with the agar-agar powder. Gradually whisk in 100ml of cold water until no lumps remain. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.

   ~10 min
5. 5

   Create the pearls: Using a fine-mesh sieve, carefully lift the poached pear spheres from the saffron syrup. Gently place them into the agar-agar mixture, ensuring they are coated. Working quickly, use a spoon to lift each pear sphere and let it drip slightly, then place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. The agar-agar will set rapidly.

   ~15 min
6. 6

   Caramelize the lavender: In a food processor, pulse the dried lavender buds until finely ground. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg whites and powdered sugar to form a thick paste. Stir in the ground lavender. Transfer this mixture to a piping bag with a small round tip.

   ~10 min
7. 7

   Gild the pearls: Once the agar-agar coated pear spheres have set (about 15 minutes at room temperature), carefully apply small dots of edible gold leaf to each sphere using tweezers. Gently press to adhere. This step requires precision and a steady hand.

   ~15 min
8. 8

   Pipe the lavender accents: Pipe small, decorative dots or swirls of the lavender mixture onto each gilded pear sphere. Use a kitchen torch on a low setting to lightly caramelize the surface of these lavender dots, creating a delicate crispness. Be very careful not to burn.

   ~10 min
9. 9

   Assemble and serve: Arrange 2-3 gilded pear pearls on each serving plate. Drizzle sparingly with some of the reserved saffron pear syrup. Serve immediately.

   ~5 min