(This sweet and savory dish is popular in south-west China) Serves 4 as part of a multicourse meal
4 large pears, peeled and cut into six pieces
1/2 pound cooked ham, sliced thinly into sliced 2 inches long and 1 inch wide
1/2 cup rock sugar
SAUCE
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 cup water
2-4 cups oil for deep frying
Lay the ham slices out in a flat, heatproof dish. Mix together the sauce ingredients.
Heat the oil in deep fryer. When oil is ready, add the pears and deep-fry briefly (for about 30 seconds). Carefully remove the pears and drain on a tempura rack or paper towels. Lay the pears on top of the ham slices.
Sprinkle the rock sugar over the ham/pear mixture. Steam the ham for about 25 minutes. When the ham is nearly finished steaming, give the sauce ingredients a quick re-stir, place in a heavy bottomed pot and heat to a boil. Stir to thicken. Place the ham on a serving platter and pour the sauce over. Serve immediately.
Honey Pear Ham comes from the Cook'n Deep Fried collection. Click here to order this CD or download this brand-name recipe set right now!