How to make African pear

I am just enjoying this Ube season like kilode! Who is with me???

This one is a gist and photo post and the recipe is in the gist so read on! 🙂

My love for ube ehn is so strong that a few days ago, i was driving on Lekki-Epe expressway, i mean i had been driving for a few hours with an agent house hunting (if you live in Lagos and need to move, you must understand how stressful this process is! Kai! And please there is no better time to go house hunting than the rainy season) and just as we were about to exit the “expressway”, a friend who was with me sights a young lady about to cross the express, basket in hand…. and she says to me “is that not ube in the basket”, me when dey over serious when driving plus i was already complaining that i needed to get home and was tired, looked towards the direction of my friend’s outstretched arm and pointed finger and there was the basket filled with Ube! All the tiredness in me vanished and that is how i started honking and honking, waving hysterically out of the window and beckoning to the lady! (Abeg, dont blame me, nah the one wey dey basket dey fresh pass! Lol!) I was surprised when the guy driving behind me didn’t curse or give me some daggers when he overtook, i suppose the gentleman understood that Ube matter is a serious matter so he just drove calmly by! Kwakwakwa! Laugh wan kill me die! Chai! Anywayz, i went ahead and made my purchase smiling happily home (you can tell from the photos that this was worth my while 🙂 )

Sometime last week,i had purchased some Ube at the market. These had turned out really sour and eating it felt like work but i remembered my dear cousins chatting with us about the combo of “Ube and Honey” so with that very sour Pear, i felt it was an Ube and honey moment! I reached for honey and thoroughly enjoyed the sour and sweet combo, i wanted more from the flavours so i added a pinch of salt to the honey and my oh my! The flavour combo was a r-e-v-e-l-a-t-i-o-n!

I have had the combination a few more times afterwards with lovely buttery “not so sour” pears and every other pear flavour in between and the salted honey dipped ube combination is no doubt a winner! (Thanks Bazim and Maksy!)

To perfectly soften pears, boil a generous amount of water in a pot or saucepan. Wash pears thoroughly and add to the boiling water with some salt. Take off the heat and swirl the pears around gently with a serving spoon for about 10 seconds. Pour out the water completely and allow the heat to complete the process. Once softened, transfer to a serving dish and serve when ready.

I have since nailed my salt to honey ratio to 1 tablespoon of honey to 1/4 teaspoon of salt, mixed nicely together! Pass me some pears please! 🙂