Poached Pear Recipe

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.

📝 Ingredients

• 4 pears (See Note 1)
• 2 cups medium dry red wine (See Note 2)
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 6 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns (whole or cracked)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Place 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. 2Bring to the boil.
3. 3While waiting for the wine to boil, peel pears.
4. 4Prepare baking paper cartouche. See notes.
5. 5When the wine mixture is boiling, stir to dissolve sugar.
6. 6Gently lower peeled pears into the wine and reduce to a simmer.
7. 7Scrunch prepared baking paper and place over pears using the back of a spoon to press down.
8. 8Cover pan with the lid and simmer for 20 minutes.
9. 9Remove the lid. Lift the paper cartouche and turn pears over and replace paper.
10. 10Continue to simmer, uncovered for 20-30 minutes or until tender. Pierce with a skewer or knife to check.
11. 11Remove pears with a slotted spoon to a plate.
12. 12The syrup should have reduced to 1 cup. If not, simmer to reduce to 1 cup.
13. 13If reduced to less than a cup, add enough water to bring the syrup to one cup.
14. 14Strain syrup.
15. 15Cool pears and syrup.
16. 16Serve pears with syrup at room temperature or chilled.
17. 17Delicious with vanilla ice cream