Ingredients

• ¾ cup medium or short-grain rice
• 2 cups milk
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
• ¾ cup cream
• 4 firm ripe pears, peeled, cored and quartered
• 375 ml bottle dessert wine
• strip finely pared orange zest
• grated chocolate to decorate

Method

1. Combine rice, milk, sugar and vanilla in a heavy-based saucepan. Cover and simmer very gently for about 40 minutes or until the rice is tender. Stir frequently to prevent the rice sticking to the base of the pan.
2. Stir in cream, cover and allow to cool slowly.
3. Gently poach pear quarters in dessert wine and orange zest for about 15-20 minutes or until tender. Serve warm or cold with the rice. Decorate rice with grated chocolate.