Roasted Pears with Almond Crunch Recipe

Directions:

1. Make almond crunch: Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Whisk together egg white and sugar, then add almonds, stirring until coated. Spread in a thin layer on a buttered baking sheet and bake in middle of oven until golden, 15 to 25 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a rack, then break into pieces.
3. Increase oven temperature to 425°F.
4. Roast pears: Halve pears lengthwise and core (preferably with a melon-ball cutter). Spread butter on bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar. Arrange pears, cut sides up, on sugar, then brush cut sides with 1 tablespoon Amaretto.
5. Roast pears, uncovered, in middle of oven until barely tender, about 25 minutes. Add water, remaining tablespoon Amaretto, and a pinch of salt to baking pan, then baste pears with pan juices. Roast pears, basting twice with pan juices, until tender, about 15 minutes more.
6. Serve pears warm or at room temperature, drizzled with pan juices and topped with almond crunch.
7. Cooks' notes: • Almond crunch can be made 4 days ahead and kept in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature. • Pears can be roasted 1 hour ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.