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–+ servings
Red Wine Poached Pears – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Red Wine Poached Pears

An incredibly light yet flavorful dessert, these Red Wine Poached Pears are deceptively simple to prepare and guaranteed to impress. Tender, juicy pears are stained a gorgeous deep maroon from a simmering bath of spiced red wine, honey, and cinnamon, making for an elegant finale
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 285

Ingredients
  

  • 4 ripe but firm pears (Bosc, Comice, or Anjou are excellent choices)
  • 1 ½ cups / 360 ml (12.2 fl oz) dry red wine
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup (113 g / 4 oz) honey
  • 1 pinch ground cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ½ cup (75 g / 2.65 oz) raisins
  • Use firm, slightly underripe pears. Varieties like Bosc, Anjou, or Comice are ideal as they hold their shape beautifully during poaching and won't become mushy.
  • For perfectly even color, use a pot that fits the pears snugly in a single layer. You can also place a circle of parchment paper directly on top of the liquid to keep the pears fully submerged.
  • Elevate your dessert by serving it with a dollop of mascarpone cheese, thick Greek yogurt, or a classic scoop of vanilla bean ice cream to complement the warm spices.

Method
 

  1. Prep the Pears: Peel the pears, slice them in half vertically, and use a melon baller or small spoon to remove the cores and any tough strings from the neck.
  2. Make the Syrup: In a large skillet or pot wide enough to hold the pears in a single layer, combine the red wine, lemon juice, honey, cloves, cinnamon stick, and raisins.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  4. Poach the Pears: Carefully add the pear halves to the pot.
  5. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, partially cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, turning them occasionally to ensure even coloring. The pears are done when they are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife.
  6. Plate the Pears: Once tender, use a slotted spoon to transfer the pears to a serving dish or individual bowls, placing them flat-side up.
  7. Reduce the Sauce & Serve: Increase the heat to high and boil the remaining liquid until it has reduced by about one-third and thickened into a light syrup. Spoon some of the plumped raisins into the core of each pear and pour the warm sauce over them.
  8. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 1gFat: 0.5g

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