Meatless Mondays #33 – Poached pear & chocolate pizza
jeroxie / chocolate, contemporary, cook, dessert & sweet, home cooking, recipe / 45 Comments
Super sweet tooth this weekend. Maybe it was the macarons that Mister brought back for me from Sydney. Can I just say that Adriano Zumbo is a genius with flavour, balance and texture. Everyone that has a piece of the precious commodity always end up saying ‘OMG! It’s so good.’ The macarons are always the first to go at his shop. If you are in Sydney, make sure you head in before the shop opens.
I was digging through the old Sydney photos and found this. This pinenut millefueille is one of the best cake ever! It looks sickening sweet but it so not. I can’t remember how many layers there are but every layer has a different flavour, different texture. Every layer is like a chapter in a book and together, they told a story. So regret not getting more!
And does this look familar? Is this a V8 with a dark chocolate layer?
We totally skipped breakfast and Mister patiently waited while I made this poached pear and chocolate pizza. Organisation is the key. Poach the pears first and then allow it to cool or chill down in its juices. And don’t thrown the poaching liquid away. You can use it again
I used Green & Blacks Organic dark chocolate. Using the whole block is definitely too much but I didn’t care. I had a couple of pieces before melting it and then left some in the bowl for personal indulgence after
Ingredients:
Poaching pears
- 2 borsch pears
- 1L of water
- 3tsp of honey
- rind of 1 lemon
Thin crust pizza dough
- 250g of plain flour
- 1 tsp of instant yeast (no need for mixing with water) 0r 7g of yeast mixed with warm water
- 175ml of warm water
- 2tbsp of olive oil
- Nice pinch of salt
Method:
- Stir the honey into water on the stove until dissolve. Throw in the pears and the lemon rind and allow it to come to boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for about 20mins or until pears are al dente. Use a small paring knife to test. Set aside
- Mix all the dry ingredients. Add the olive oil. Mix and then add the warm water bit by bit. Start kneading as the flour and liquid comes together
- Flour the table top and knead for about 8-10mins. Great exercise. Or like me, knead in the big metal bowl. Once it looks smooth and shiny and doesn’t stick to hands, set it aside in a warm area with a cloth over the bowl and allow it to proof for an hour
- Pre heat the oven to 220C. I don’t own a marble or plate. I place my round pizza pan into the oven to heat up
- Punch the dough and give it another good knead. Split into 2 doughs (I kept one for the next day or you can cook it and then freeze it). Roll on the dough till it is quite thin. Place it on top of a baking sheet. Crimp up the sides and place it in the oven for about 10 mins or until the sides have a nice brown
- Take it out, drizzle with load of chocolate. Place the sliced pears on top and drizzle more chocolate. Put it back in the oven for a couple of minutes
- Remove, slice and indulge
I love the crust. It is super thin and crispy! To be honest, there was way too much chocolate and I should slice the pear thinner.
We had poached pear and chocolate pizza for lunch and mochi ice cream for dessert! It is probably not the most healthy weekend but it was sweet. By dinner, we went back to normal Chinese home cooking. I made watercress soup with pork ribs. This is the life of a food blogger on a weekend.
What do you do when you need a big chocolate hit?
Tweets that mention Meatless Mondays #34 - Poached pear & chocolate pizza | Addictive and consuming - A Melbourne food blog -- Topsy.com
Aug 10, 2010 @ 11:04:10
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by jeroxie, sydneyfoodtweets. sydneyfoodtweets said: http://bit.ly/len9p Meatless Mondays #34 – Poached pear & chocolate pizza | Addictive …: Everyone that has a pie… http://bit.ly/byxiA0 […]
Aug 10, 2010 @ 19:46:37
I made chocolate spread by microwaving dark chocolate. Or I just have my sister make me her hot chocolate.
Michelle recently posted..Yoke Yat Bak Kut Teh @ Jalan Imbi- Kuala Lumpur
Aug 10, 2010 @ 20:17:02
oh my – how delightful!!!!! Love the combination of flavours

Lisa (bakebikeblog) recently posted..Sunday racing…team style!
Aug 10, 2010 @ 21:53:28
This looks delicious! Pears and dark chocolate are an awesome combination.
Baking Serendipity recently posted..Beef and Black Bean Burgers
Aug 10, 2010 @ 22:32:27
Lovely… chocolate and pear are such a great comb. Thanks!!
Nicole @ The Dirty O recently posted..Banana Bread Muffins
Aug 10, 2010 @ 22:36:32
If I'm too lazy to melt my own chocolate, would you forgive me if I used nutella instead?
Aug 10, 2010 @ 23:27:58
Yum!! Like someone said earlier, I would be making an easy version with nutella, inspired from this!
Anh recently posted..Sweet corn pudding with coconut milk – Delicious Vietnam 4
Aug 10, 2010 @ 23:36:26
I love chocolate / nutella pizza. I love to add some mascarpone cheese and fresh strawberries on the pizza! Lucky you to have zumbo . I haven't even been there although I live in Sydney

Ellie (Almost Bourda recently posted..Deep-Fried Dumplings – Wantons
Aug 10, 2010 @ 23:37:44
I like how there's barely any sweetener in the poached pear component, so that all the richness comes from the chocolate layer. Looks pretty darn tasty, I must admit!
But that pine nut millefeuille…. why won't Zumbo ever come to Canberra? WHY? *sob*
Hannah recently posted..Flint in the Vines at Shaw Valley Vineyards- or Celebrating My Grandma
Aug 11, 2010 @ 00:21:10
i would love to comment on your post, but i don't understand this phrase: way too much chocolate. i've never seen those words in that combination before.
however, this looks amazing and i love seeing pears used in dessert. yum!
Brie recently posted..The Wow Baking Company – Oregon Oatmeal Cookie
Aug 11, 2010 @ 01:55:22
I love how you include chocolate pizza in your Meatless Mondays. That's my kind of dessert!
OohLookBel recently posted..Baked chocolate creams and ginger pears
Aug 11, 2010 @ 02:37:41
What a pizza dessert! Great idea for a change. Would love to try.
MaryMoh recently posted..Double Chocolate Cookies
Aug 11, 2010 @ 06:08:13
You know I make so many savoury pizzas but never a sweet one. I'm thinking Mr NQN might like a banana and chocolate one!

Lorraine @ Not Quite recently posted..Veal- Mustard & Pickle Toasties For Rainy Winter Nights In
Aug 11, 2010 @ 06:21:05
What a great choice of dish for meatless Monday! And great idea to make a dessert pizza!! I can just imagine how decadent that much chocolate would be!
April @ My Food Trai recently posted..The Cookbook Challenge- Week 38 Spice theme round up
Aug 11, 2010 @ 06:40:10
I've had sweet pizza once or twice before and only ever made it once but we used a premade pizza base. The combination of chocolate and poached pears sounds really indulgent! Ohh weekends are when we can indulge in our love of food =)
angie recently posted..Wenger Knives & Calabrian Masterclass at Carrick Cooking School 2nd August
Aug 11, 2010 @ 08:25:25
Oh wow… talk about a beautiful pizza (and a great excuse to eat chocolate for lunch).
When I was little, my mother would sometimes pour chocolate sauce over canned pear halves and call it "Poires Belle Helene", which I've since discovered is a classic dessert made with poached pears… and it's still one of my favourites quickie desserts.
Isabelle recently posted..I Scream- You Scream – Blueberry-Hyssop Ice Cream
Aug 11, 2010 @ 08:29:17
That crust looks so good! I cannot judge a person having a sweet for dinner – once I ate a whole cherry pie!
Trix recently posted..Creamy Zucchini- Garlic & Chive Soup – or Zucchinicremesuppe – Austrian Style
Aug 11, 2010 @ 08:36:30
Haha, I thought you were being super cheeky having a dessert for meatless monday, but it was your lunch so it totally counts, and you are totally great for having dessert for lunch.
Conor @ HoldtheBeef recently posted..When the going gets tough- the tough get vegan
Aug 11, 2010 @ 08:36:52
Amazing and totally sinful.
But everyone deserves a cheat day and for mine, I pick that chocolate pizza. If I make it with whole wheat crust, do you think it might rank as "healthy"???
Love that recipe. Great post.
Joanne recently posted..A Taste of Utica Frog Eye Salad
Aug 11, 2010 @ 08:51:19
The pears on our tree are growing rapidly and this would be just the recipe to try with them. Very decadent!
Aug 11, 2010 @ 09:00:04
Too much chocolate??!! There's no such thing!!

Honey @ honeyandsoy recently posted..Two dinners in one day- 1st day in HK Part 2
Aug 11, 2010 @ 10:17:20
Yum! That sounds so good! I love the combo of chocolate & pears and that pizza crust looks so perfectly crispy!
5 Star Foodie recently posted..5 Star Makeover- Chicken with Sweet Corn Sauce
Aug 11, 2010 @ 11:00:56
The only thing I can say to this is WOW. The pizza you made looks delicious and those sweets in the pics looks fabulous..
Evan @swEEts recently posted..Monkey Bread Muffins
Aug 11, 2010 @ 11:14:07
Nice choice for a chocolate bar! The pizza does look delicious and I would have it for any meal:-)
Aug 11, 2010 @ 11:28:21
I don't mind having that thicker slices of fresh apple, they are fine with me on the pizza.
TasteHongKong recently posted..Udon with Shimeji Mushrooms and Miso Sauce
Aug 11, 2010 @ 17:07:06
Uh. Yumm.
Wow. That's pretty and tasty I bet.
It looks like a pretty standard pizza dough, which I always assumed wouldn't work for pastry/sweet purposes. But I guess if the pears are sweet enough and the chocolate is rich enough the dough should work fine if crisp enough.
Aug 11, 2010 @ 18:23:25
This looks like the perfect weekend breakfast. Craig would love it!
All 5 packs of Tim Tams made it home.
I can't wait to dig into those spices. Thanks so much!!!!
Aug 11, 2010 @ 20:40:19
Wow…what a fabulous combination of flavors! Can't wait to try this–thanks!
Aug 11, 2010 @ 20:45:14
Oh Penny, I am loving your sweet pizza! Well, it's a fun treat after all. Something that can pamper ourselves during the weekend. Enjoy and have a wonderful day!
Cheers, kristy
kristy recently posted..Ayam Percik
Aug 11, 2010 @ 22:03:58
Wow that is a wonderful idea! I normally just have a block of chocolate lol
3hungrytummies recently posted..Fried Beef Hor Fun With Gravy 滑蛋牛肉河 – My Attempt At Recreating The Soo Kee Classic Malaysia Monday 7
Aug 12, 2010 @ 00:24:52
Lol! oh well weekends are meant for indulging =)
What a delicious flavour combination! I still haven't had anything from Zumbo, despite the sticker on my phone. I'm really wanting a trip to Sydney for a food tour
…. i'm a chocoholic, so I'm always in need of a chocolate hit!
Iron Chef Shellie recently posted..Product Review- Chai Mamma
Aug 12, 2010 @ 04:15:52
Sweet, Penny….Your poached pear and chocolate pizza was very thin and crunchy. I'd also like to have something like this for weekends.
Christine@Christine& recently posted..Drunken Chicken Legs
Aug 12, 2010 @ 04:50:36
Pears and Chocolates a beautiful combination !
Sharlene (Wheels and recently posted..Summer salad
Aug 12, 2010 @ 08:16:38
Meatless Monday is really catching on, I listened to a report on NPR about a chef who offers meatless specials on Monday at his traditionally animal protein menu.
Bon appetit!
=:~)
Aug 12, 2010 @ 11:06:22
I'm almost meatless everyday since hubby is a pesco veegtarian. Your sweet pizza looks so good.
Anyway, I was just thinking to make chocolate sweetened condensed milk that I used to have since I can't find one that ready to use in Canada. Got a goodie of Venezuelan dark chocolate.
Pepy @Indonesia Eats recently posted..Have a Blessed Ramadhan
Aug 12, 2010 @ 14:25:04
Love the combo!
pigpigscorner recently posted..Nitro Ice-Cream @ Chin Chin Laboratorists
Aug 12, 2010 @ 17:35:39
Wow that looks delicious! I am a chocoholic, and I would want to eat the whole thing, hehe. Great recipe and photos.
Nancy-Spicie Foodie recently posted..Zanahorias en Escabeche or Mexican Spicy Pickled Carrots
Aug 13, 2010 @ 07:00:34
Whoohoo! Another recipe for pears. Looks great, Penny

Agnes recently posted..Cookbook Challenge- Week 38- Spice
Aug 14, 2010 @ 16:00:55
When I need a chocolate fix, which isn't often, I have nutella or a piece of whatever choccie I can lay my hands on. I would love to add hot chocolate with tons of whipped cream to the list but……
Kitchen Butterfly recently posted..Cupboard Love- Barbecued Mustard Chicken
Aug 14, 2010 @ 22:49:29
Oh man, this stuff looks sinful! Chocolate & pears on a pizza crust sound awesome, and it looks great too! I love the idea of going heavy on the chocolate, you can never have to much chocolate.
Karen recently posted..Commercial Kitchen Swinging Doors
Aug 16, 2010 @ 12:15:40
Penny – you're becoming a baker! What an inspired dish! Mister is a lucky guy!
Mardi @eatlivetravel recently posted..Daring Cooks August – Pierogies
Aug 24, 2010 @ 07:47:11
Great idea!
Chocolate pear pizza is inovative!!
Greetings from Bonn, Germany.
Aug 24, 2010 @ 07:51:17
thanks very much. it was indeed delicious.
Sep 02, 2010 @ 05:04:47
Oh man this looks delicious!
Everything here looks so yummy! And your photographs are beautiful.
I recently launched my own blog http://www.prettygoodfood.com I'd love for you to check it out and let me know what you think! Thanks and Happy Cooking!
My recent post Curried Chicken Salad
Sep 02, 2010 @ 10:30:21
You have a beautiful blog! Love it! You are on my feed now. YUM!