- 1/2 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 lb kumquats (20), ends trimmed, sliced crosswise 1/3 inch thick, and seeded
- 3 lb Asian pear (4 large), peeled, cored, and sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
- Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into water with lime juice in a small heavy saucepan, then add pod, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then simmer 3 minutes. Add kumquats and simmer, covered, until they just begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Put pears in a heatproof bowl. Pour kumquats and syrup over pears and toss gently, then cool.
- Chill fruit, covered, at least 2 hours.