Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
• 4 firm-ripe Bosc pear, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cored
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 11- by 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with some of butter.
2. Brush pears all over with lemon juice and put, cut sides down, in baking dish. Pour water around pears and scatter remaining butter in dish. Sprinkle pears with sugar and five-spice powder.
3. Bake, uncovered, in middle of oven, brushing frequently with pan juices, until pears are tender and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Serve pears warm, drizzled with some pan juices and sprinkled with sesame seeds.