Classic Poached Pears

Indulge in the timeless elegance of **Classic Poached Pears**, a dessert that transforms simple ingredients into a show-stopping masterpiece. Perfectly ripe pears are gently simmered in a luxurious blend of dry red wine, granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, star anise, and orange zest, infusing them with warm, aromatic flavors. This easy yet impressive recipe features tender, ruby-colored pears coated in a rich, syrupy reduction, making it an ideal choice for dinner parties, holiday celebrations, or an everyday treat with a touch of sophistication. Ready in just under an hour, these poached pears can be served warm or chilled, drizzled with the fragrant syrup and optionally paired with creamy accompaniments like vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Bring a touch of culinary artistry to your table with this effortlessly elegant dessert!

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 medium Pears
• 750 ml Dry red wine
• 100 g Granulated sugar
• 1 whole Cinnamon stick
• 1 whole Vanilla bean
• 2 whole Star anise
• 1 strip Orange zest
• 250 ml Water

Directions

Step 1

Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact. Trim the bottom of each pear slightly to allow them to stand upright if serving that way.

Step 2

In a medium saucepan, combine the red wine, granulated sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, orange zest, and water.

Step 3

Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with a knife, and add both the seeds and the bean to the saucepan.

Step 4

Heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a gentle simmer.

Step 5

Carefully add the peeled pears to the saucepan. They should be submerged in the liquid; if not, turn them occasionally to ensure even cooking.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan partially, and let the pears simmer gently for about 25-30 minutes, or until tender. Test by inserting a knife into the thickest part of a pear; it should glide in easily.

Step 7

Once the pears are tender, gently remove them from the poaching liquid using a slotted spoon and set them aside in a serving dish.

Step 8

Increase the heat to medium-high and boil the liquid until it reduces by half and becomes syrupy, about 15 minutes.

Step 9

Remove the cinnamon stick, star anise, and vanilla bean from the syrup. Discard these aromatics.

Step 10

Pour the reduced syrup over the poached pears and let them cool to room temperature. You can serve them immediately, or cover and refrigerate them for up to 2 days to enhance the flavors.

Step 11

Serve the poached pears at room temperature or chilled, drizzled with the wine syrup. Optionally, pair with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an extra indulgent treat.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1473.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1266.4

Total Fat 0.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 55.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 177.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.1g	0%
Total Sugars 156.8g
Protein 1.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 126.2mg	0%
Iron 3.2mg	0%
Potassium 1066.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 0.9%

Protein: 0.7%

Carbs: 98.5%