Poached Pears in Red Wine Syrup
Pears and red wine are a classic pairing for good reason. As the pears simmer, they soak up the wine’s color and pick up warmth from cinnamon and orange peel. The cooking liquid then reduces into a glossy syrup that goes right back over the pears. A scoop of vanilla ice cream in the core is optional but recommended. This dessert actually improves overnight, so it’s a good one to make a day ahead.
Ingredients
- juice of 1 lemon
- 4 cups (1 L) water
- 4 firm not too ripe Williams pears, peeled, sliced in half lengthwise and cored
- 1 strip of orange peel
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 cup (115 g) sugar
- 3 cups (3/4 L) red wine
- fresh mint leaves for garnish
Preparation
Squeeze lemon juice in enough water to cover the pears. Once peeled immerse the pears immediately in acidulated water, i.e. water mixed with the juice of 1 lemon. This avoids oxidation resulting in discoloring of the pears.
Remove pears from the lemon water and arrange them snugly together with the cut side down in a pan large enough to hold them. Add cinnamon and orange strip tucking them under the pear halves. Sprinkle sugar on top of pears, pour all the wine over them. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15-30 minutes, depending on the ripeness of pears. Check if pears are soft after 15 minutes. They should be soft but still holding their shape.
Remove pears from the pan using a skimming spoon. Save the cooking liquid. Discard orange peel and cinnamon. Bring liquid to a boil and simmer it gently until it is reduced and syrupy about 20 minutes. Pour red wine syrup over the pears. Let it cool. Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until serving. Tastes best if prepared a day ahead.
Place pears on serving plates, add a bit of the wine syrup, fill the pear cores with vanilla ice cream and garnish with fresh mint leaves.