Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears
Updated: May 14, 2022
Pears are poached in red wine and warm spices to create an intense colour and flavour. The poaching liquid is then reduced to create a rich syrupy sauce. This recipe is great for a romantic night in or to serve for the holidays!
So I had originally made this recipe intending for it to be posted around the holidays, but never got around to doing it until... well, today.
Thought it might be an elegant dessert for a Valentines dinner at home with your partner (or family/friends) Goes to show that you can definitely have this for any special occasion (or you can have it whenever that craving hits 😉 )
Well let’s get on to why I love this recipe - for one thing, I love pears 🍐. When I want a snacking pear, I usually go for an Asian pear which are just so juicy and delicious and are the ones packed with the most nutrients and minerals.
When I want to cook with pears, I usually go for firmer ones that would hold their shape during the cooking process like Bartlett, Bosc, or Anjou (I used Anjou). Use ones that are ripe but still fairly firm and still have their stems attached, they make for a more attractive dessert.
Another reason why I love this recipe is the fact that the poaching liquid adds a ton of flavour to the pears, then when the liquid is reduced, those flavours intensify and is then used as a luscious and syrupy sauce. With the use of cold-weather spices such as cinnamon, clove, anise, they just add wonderful notes that just adds to its luxuriousness.
Plus, look at that colour!! It’s just gorgeous! Talk about a fancy dessert.. yum 🤤
I also definitely recommend that you make this recipe with a wine that you’d want to drink as you’ll want to enjoy all that concentrated flavour. Something with a fruity notes like a Zinfandel, Shiraz, or Merlot, or a dry red like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir like I have used here.
I paired this recipe with a Vegan Chocolate Mousse (recipe coming soon and to be linked) but you can also pair this dessert with whipped cream, or mascarpone.
It is also delicious simply served by itself topped with the reduced and syrupy poaching liquid, with crushed nuts like pistachios (or your fave) or in keeping with the Valentines theme, edible flowers like rose petals, how lovely 💕
