Asian Pear and Avocado Salad with Garam Masala Syrup

Name: Asian Pear and Avocado Salad with Garam Masala Syrup
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 2 cups water; 1 1/2 cup sugar; 1 1 (2-inch-long) piece cinnamon stick; 1 2 (1- by 1/4-inch) pieces fresh ginger, smashed; 1 2 teaspoons green or white cardamom pods, lightly crushed; 1 2 teaspoons coriander seeds, lightly crushed; 1 10 whole black peppercorns, lightly crushed; 1 1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes; 1 1/4 cup raw green (hulled) pumpkin seeds (not roasted); 1 2 firm-ripe California avocados (1 to 1 1/4 lb); 1 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice; 1 2 Asian pears (1 lb total); 1 4 oz mixed microgreens or baby greens (4 cups)

From the kitchen of Carly

Creamy avocado and crisp asian pear get a warming spice treatment with garam masala syrup, cardamom, and toasted pumpkin seeds. The sweet and savory syrup coats everything in complex flavor while peppery seeds add crunch.

Prep: n/a
Cook: n/a
Total: n/a
Servings: 4
Difficulty: medium

Ingredients

4 servings

12 cups water
11/2 cup sugar
11 (2-inch-long) piece cinnamon stick
12 (1- by 1/4-inch) pieces fresh ginger, smashed
12 teaspoons green or white cardamom pods, lightly crushed
12 teaspoons coriander seeds, lightly crushed
110 whole black peppercorns, lightly crushed
11/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
11/4 cup raw green (hulled) pumpkin seeds (not roasted)
12 firm-ripe California avocados (1 to 1 1/4 lb)
11/4 cup fresh lemon juice
12 Asian pears (1 lb total)
14 oz mixed microgreens or baby greens (4 cups)

Instructions

Bring all syrup ingredients to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer until syrup is reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, covered, 1 hour. Pour syrup through a sieve into a bowl, discarding solids.
Heat a dry heavy 10-inch skillet over moderate heat until hot, then toast pumpkin seeds, stirring constantly, until puffed and beginning to pop, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer seeds to a plate and season with salt.
Halve, pit, and peel avocados, then thinly slice lengthwise. Gently toss slices with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste, then gently toss with 1/4 cup syrup.
Halve pears and core, then thinly slice lengthwise. Toss pear slices with remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup syrup.
Drain pears, reserving syrup, and arrange slices on 4 plates. Transfer avocado slices to plates with a slotted spoon, discarding syrup. Toss greens with reserved syrup from pears and salt and pepper to taste. Mound greens next to avocado and pear slices and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.