A simple dessert and yet surprisingly decadent. Pears poached in red wine is an ideal dish to make with pears that are not quite fully ripe. This classic dessert can make the perfect end to a meal. Serve hot or cold with cream or ice cream.

I love the simplicity of this dessert. Succulent juicy pears in a sticky spiced syrup.  While you can poach pears in white wine, tea, cider, apple juice etc, red wine remains my favourite. Firstly because it produces such a beautiful colour to the dish which then contrasts to the light flesh as you break into the pear, but also the sharp tannins of the wine compliment the sweet flesh of the pear perfectly.

You can serve them simply on their own but I like to serve them best with ice cream.

Pears poached in red wine goes really well with my Stem Ginger Ice Cream (above) and my Christmas Pudding Ice Cream(below) but good old vanilla would work well too. As the pears can be made ahead of time they are ideal for dinner parties.

Step by Step Pears Poached in Red wine

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Pears Poached In Red Wine

A classic dessert that can be prepared ahead of time.Serve hot or cold with cream or ice cream 

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Dessert

Skill Level: Easy

Servings: 6

Calories: 290kcal

Author: Jacqueline Bellefontaine

Ingredients

metric - US cups

for the pears

• 6 pears
• 750 ml bottle red wine
• ½ lemon, juice only
• 125 g golden caster sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• pinch grated nutmeg

Instructions

• Peel the pears leaving the stems attached. Remove the Calyx from the base of the pears. Cut a  small slice from the base of the pear so that they will stand up when serving
• Place the red wine in a saucepan with the lemon juice, sugar and ginger and heat gently stirring until the sugar dissolves.
• Place the pears in the wine. Cover and poach gently for 20-30 minutes until just tender, turning the fruit a few times during the cooking time.
  
• Remove the whole spices from the poaching syrup then return the pan to the heat and boil rapidly until reduced by half and slightly syrupy. Allow to cool
• Pour the syrup over the pears or spoon around the fruit when serving.

Notes

Nutrition information is approximate (does not include seasoning with salt and pepper)  and is meant as a guideline only.

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 7.7mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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• Prepare ahead
• Easy Entertaining
• Serve hot or cold

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