Port Poached Pears
Poached in a mixture of Port, red wine, orange and warming spices these pears are a simple and elegant holiday dessert.
Ingredients
- 4 large ripe Bosc pears (or any firm variety)
- 1 bottle port
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cloves
- 1 star anise
- peel of half an organic orange
- juice of one orange
Instructions
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel half of the orange trying not to get too much of the white pith. Place the peels in a large pot along with the Port, red wine, sugar cane, spices, orange juice and bring to a low boil. Use a pot that will keep the pears submerged in the wine and still have a bit of room to move around.
- In the meantime peel the pears. If you want to serve the pears standing upright, cut a small slice off the bottom of the pears so that it is flat.
- Once the wine mixture has come to a boil turn down to a low simmer and add the pears. Let them simmer for about 30 minutes, gently rotating the pears periodically so that all the sides get submerged. They're ready when they're soft enough that a knife can easily pierce through.
- Take the pot off the heat and let it cool to room temperature, keeping the pears in the pot. (This will help stain the pears a darker red). Once they are at room temperature they can be eaten but I recommend leaving them to soak overnight in the wine mixture in the fridge. They will become a deep red and the spices will be enhanced.
- Serve them cool from the fridge or at room temperature. They're delicious as is but are even more so when served with vanilla ice cream. The leftover wine is delicious to drink warm. Heat to a low simmer and add more sweetener if needed. Enjoy!
Notes
*Make sure to use ripe Bosc pears. The skins should have some small wrinkles near the stem and be slightly soft when pressed. Do not use Bartlett pears as they will break apart when cooked.
*If your pears are small you can probably make 6-7 instead of 4.
*The Port can be substituted with red wine. I am not a wine expert but any wine that you love to drink will work just fine!
*Organic cane sugar can be substituted with any sugar of choice - coconut sugar, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, each one changing the flavour slightly.