Cardamom Pear Galette by Chef Mohamad Chabchoul

We collaborated with the renowned Chef Mohamad Chabchoul, an award-winning celebrity chef known for his creative fusion of flavors and masterful techniques. Chef Chabchoul made Cardamom Pear Galette with Puff Pastry, elevating this simple yet elegant dessert with the bold, aromatic flavors of our Emperor Akbar Cardamom. The warm, spicy sweetness of the cardamom beautifully complements the delicate, poached pears, making each bite a harmonious experience.

Chef Chabchoul was particularly impressed by the unmatched aroma of our cardamom, which he found added depth and complexity to the dish, turning an everyday galette into an extraordinary dessert. The result is a mouthwatering treat that balances the richness of the puff pastry with the tender sweetness of the pears, all enhanced by the fragrant, subtle heat of cardamom.

Ingredients:

For the Simple Syrup:

3 cups granulated sugar

3 cups water

1 cinnamon stick

1 tsp ground cardamom (freshly grind Emperor Akbar Cardamom whole pods)

2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Galette:

4 Bartlett pears (or any variety of your choice)

1 sheet chilled pie dough (store-bought or homemade)

1 egg (for egg wash) (Substitutes: Milk or Cream / Maple Syrup, Honey / Aquafaba from Canned Chickpeas / Vegetable Oil)

Sugar (for sprinkling)

Recipe:

Prepare the Simple Syrup: Grind fresh cardamom from Emperor Akbar Cardamom. In a medium saucepan, combine 3 cups of sugar and 3 cups of water. Add the cinnamon stick, ground cardamom, and vanilla extract. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is fully dissolved. Once simmering, lower the heat and allow it to gently infuse for 5 minutes.

Poach the Pears: While the syrup is simmering, core and slice the pears into thin slices. Once the syrup is ready, add the pear slices in batches, poaching them until they are soft but not falling apart (about 4-5 minutes per batch). Use a slotted spoon to transfer the poached pears to a bowl, draining off the excess syrup as you do so. Set the pears aside to cool to room temperature or slightly colder.

Prepare the Galette Crust: Roll out your chilled pie dough on a floured surface, aiming for a thickness of about 1/8 inch, ensuring the bottom is slightly thicker. Using a pastry wheel, cut out a large circle of dough, big enough to overlap the edges of a half-sheet pan by an inch or two.

Transfer the dough to the sheet pan lined with parchment paper. For a crisper base, you can pop the crust back into the freezer for 10 minutes, though this step is optional.

Assemble the Galette: Once the pears are cooled, start arranging them in a circular pattern toward the outer edge of the crust, leaving enough space to fold the dough back over. Layer the pears in a staggered manner to form a beautiful rosette shape, making sure the slices are arranged evenly and neatly.

Gently fold the edges of the dough over the pears, creating a rustic, pleated border around the galette. Don’t worry about perfection — the charm of a galette is its freeform shape!

Finish the Galette: In a small bowl, beat the egg and brush it over the exposed edges of the dough to give it a golden, glossy finish when baked. Sprinkle sugar generously over both the crust and the pears for added sweetness and texture.

Bake the Galette: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the galette in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the pears are tender and caramelized. You may want to turn the galette once during baking for even colour.

Serve and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the galette from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before slicing and serving. The warm, spiced aroma of the cardamom will fill your kitchen, making this dessert even more irresistible. Enjoy it as-is or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgent treat.

This Cardamom Pear Galette is a perfect blend of rich, flaky puff pastry, tender poached pears, and the aromatic, spicy sweetness of cardamom. Chef Mohamad Chabchoul’s creative use of our Emperor Akbar Cardamom brings a unique twist to the traditional galette, turning it into a sophisticated dessert worthy of any occasion. Try it today and discover why this galette is a standout, with flavors that linger long after the last bite.