bartlett pear chutney with red wine, chestnuts and lemon thyme
Chef Todd Gray of Equinox – Washington D.C.
Adapted by StarChefs

Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients:

• 6 Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, and diced
• 3 shallots, minced
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 quart red wine
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup chestnuts, peeled
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 sprigs lemon thyme
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method:

In large sauce pan, combine pears, shallots, sugar, red wine, cinnamon, ginger, and bay leaves. Bring to simmer, allowing wine to reduce to thin glaze consistency. Remove bay leaves, cinnamon stick, and ginger. Remove from heat and transfer pears to mixing bowl, reserve.

Poach chestnuts in heavy cream until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain, cool and add chestnuts to pears. Strip thyme leaves from stems, mince and add to pears with salt and pepper. Serve warm or cold.

Wine Pairing:
Iron Horse Pinot Noir, Sonoma, 2000