Poached Pear
This poached pear recipe is a simple and impressive dessert that is equally at home at a dinner party or family meal. These delicious pears glisten with syrup and are fragrant with spices. Included is a special ingredient that balances out the sweetness.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 50 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 4 pears (See Note 1)
- 2 cup medium dry red wine (See Note 2)
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 whole cloves
- 1/2 tsp black peppercorns (whole or cracked)
Instructions
- 1
Place red wine, sugar, water, balsamic vinegar, cinnamon stick, whole cloves and black pepper into a medium size pot that will snuggly fit the pears.
- 2
Bring to the boil.
- 3
While waiting for the wine to boil, peel pears.
- 4
Prepare baking paper cartouche. See notes.
- 5
When the wine mixture is boiling, stir to dissolve sugar.
- 6
Gently lower peeled pears into the wine and reduce to a simmer.
- 7
Scrunch prepared baking paper and place over pears using the back of a spoon to press down.
- 8
Cover pan with the lid and simmer for 20 minutes.
- 9
Remove the lid. Lift the paper cartouche and turn pears over and replace paper.
- 10
Continue to simmer, uncovered for 20-30 minutes or until tender. Pierce with a skewer or knife to check.
- 11
Remove pears with a slotted spoon to a plate.
- 12
The syrup should have reduced to 1 cup. If not, simmer to reduce to 1 cup.
- 13
If reduced to less than a cup, add enough water to bring the syrup to one cup.
- 14
Strain syrup.
- 15
Cool pears and syrup.
- 16
Serve pears with syrup at room temperature or chilled.
- 17
Delicious with vanilla ice cream