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Dong li (Dongbei frozen pears)
Pears frozen until black, then thawed in cold water to an icy, juicy, sherbet-like treat
In Dongbei, China's far north-east, winter temperatures fall so low that pears left outside freeze rock hard and turn glossy black, and a bowl of dong li thawing in cold water is part of every Spring Festival. They are eaten after the rich New Year's Eve dumplings and meats: cold, very sweet and full of juice, said to soothe a throat dry from heated rooms and to bring a clear, fresh start to the year. Freezing breaks down the flesh so it becomes soft and almost slushy, with a flavour like pear sorbet. You can recreate them in a home freezer; serve them as they are in small bowls, with spoons and napkins. Chef's tip: thaw them in cold water, never warm; the cold water pulls the frost out slowly and leaves an ice shell that cracks away cleanly.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 6 firm, sweet pearsChinese 'qiuzi' or Nanguo pears if you can find them; Comice or Conference work well
- 8 ¼ cups cold water
- 7 oz ice cubes (optional)for colder water
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Leave 6 firm, sweet pears at room temperature for 2–3 days until they smell fragrant and the skins start to go golden; riper pears darken more and taste sweeter after freezing.
Step 2: Wash and dry the pears, put them in a freezer bag and freeze for at least 2 days, until rock hard and the skins have turned brown to nearly black. They keep frozen for up to 2 months.
3 minStep 3: Put the frozen pears in a large bowl and cover with 8 ¼ cups cold water and 7 oz ice cubes. Leave for 20–30 minutes, until a crust of ice forms around each one. Common mistake: using warm water to speed it up; the outside turns mushy while the core stays frozen solid.
25 minStep 4: Crack off the ice shell and squeeze a pear gently: it is ready when it gives like a ripe peach all over. Bite a small hole in the skin and sip the juice, then eat the soft flesh with a spoon.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 100 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does dong li (Dongbei frozen pears) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
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