Red Wine Poached Pears
Red Wine Poached Pears with spices is a simple and impressive dessert that is equally at home at a dinner party or family meal.
These delicious pears glisten with wine syrup and are fragrant with spices. Included is a special ingredient that balances out the sweetness.
Have you fallen out of love with pears? Often when I buy pears, they are hard and unripe. Sometimes, pears are gritty and not very sweet. That’s why I love to cook pears. Whether I make this stewed pear recipe, bake pears into this fantastic Pear Cake, or combine pears and chocolate into a tart, cooking brings out all the natural flavors.
This Red Wine Poached Pears recipe is one of my favorite ways to cook this fruit.
Ingredients
The ingredients needed for this red wine poached pear recipe are simple and you’ve probably got most in your pantry. Just purchase some fresh pears and a bottle of red wine. All you need is:-
- Pears – these should be only just ripe but not soft. Any variety will work for this recipe – bartlett or bosc pears are two of my favorites.
- Sugar – I use white granulated sugar. Substitute raw or brown sugar if you prefer though the syrup will be a different color.
- Red wine – choose a medium, dry red wine that you like to drink. This will create a delicious red wine sauce.
- Flavorings – a cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and peppercorns which are all available at the grocery store. A small number of peppercorns adds a delicious savory note to this sweet dessert. I used cracked peppercorns because that is what I had but whole peppercorns can be used – you would only need 3 or 4 peppercorns for this recipe.
- Balsamic vinegar – this adds some acidity which balances out the sweetness.
Substitutions
- Red wine – substitute medium dry white wine for the red wine.
- Flavorings – try cardamom, whole allspice berries, star anise, or bay leaf.
Variations
- Orange – Add a strip of orange peel and orange juice to the poaching liquid.
- Vanilla – Include a split vanilla bean.
- Child-friendly – use water instead of wine for a mild, child-friendly taste.
Instructions
- Prepare the poaching liquid by combining the ingredients and heating until the sugar is dissolved.
- In the meantime, peel the pears. If desired, remove the core by hollowing out at the base.
- Lay the pears down in the simmering liquid and cover with cartouche and lid. Simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove the lid. Lift the cartouche and carefully turn the pears over. Replace cartouche and continue cooking until tender.
Hint: Peel the pears after preparing the poaching liquid because the pears will brown if peeled too far ahead.
Tips for success and FAQ
A cartouche is a circle of baking paper that sits directly on the liquid. It is used in long slow, cooking so that evaporation is reduced and the surface doesn’t dry out. In this case, it also ensures that the pears remain submerged.
Take a square of baking paper, fold it evenly in half, then in half again to form a square. Fold the square in half (keeping folded edges together otherwise you will end up with two semicircles) to form a triangle.
Hold the pointy tip in the middle of the pan and trim the edge of the triangle to fit. Cut a little off the tip as well.
Unfold and check that you have cut enough off to fit the pan.
Now scrunch it! Yep, this will help it fit well into the pan.
Lay the cartouche over the liquid and push it right down so that it touches the liquid completely.
Store poached pears in the refrigerator in the cooking liquid for 5-7 days.
The best pears to use for poaching are ones that hold their shape. Bartlett or Bosc pears are the varieties I prefer. Be sure to purchase firm, not quite ripe pears. Fully ripe, soft pears will lose their shape and fall apart.
For this poached pear recipe, choose a medium dry red wine. Don’t buy a sweet wine or your dessert will be too sweet. Use a wine that is an easy drinking wine. This isn’t the time to buy the most expensive wine on the shelf however pick a decent one. Because the wine is simmered for so long the alcohol content will evaporate.
How to serve
Red Wine Poached Pears are so flavourful that they don’t need much. Serve these red wine pears with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a spoonful of creamy mascarpone cheese, or whipped cream for a luscious dessert.
These Red Wine Poached Pears are a delicious, fruity dessert that are the perfect ending to any meal. I know you will enjoy this recipe.
More recipes like this
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Roasted Fruit with Prosecco and Honey
Mini Plum Tartlets from It’s Not Complicated
Puff Pastry Apple Tart
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Poached Pear Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 pears See Note 1
- 2 cups medium dry red wine See Note 2
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- ½ cup water
- 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 whole cloves
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns whole or cracked
Instructions
- Place red wine, sugar, water, balsamic vinegar, cinnamon stick, whole cloves and black pepper into a medium size pot that will snuggly fit the pears.2 cups medium dry red wine1 cup granulated white sugar½ cup water4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar1 cinnamon stick6 whole cloves½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- Bring to the boil.
- While waiting for the wine to boil, peel pears.4 pears
- Prepare baking paper cartouche. See notes.
- When the wine mixture is boiling, stir to dissolve sugar.
- Gently lower peeled pears into the wine and reduce to a simmer.
- Scrunch prepared baking paper and place over pears using the back of a spoon to press down.
- Cover pan with the lid and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove the lid. Lift the paper cartouche and turn pears over and replace paper.
- Continue to simmer, uncovered for 20-30 minutes or until tender. Pierce with a skewer or knife to check.
- Remove pears with a slotted spoon to a plate.
- The syrup should have reduced to 1 cup. If not, simmer to reduce to 1 cup.
- If reduced to less than a cup, add enough water to bring the syrup to one cup.
- Strain syrup.
- Cool pears and syrup.
- Serve pears with syrup at room temperature or chilled.
- Delicious with vanilla ice cream
Notes
- Choose pears that hold their shape for poaching—Bartlett or Bosc are my favorites. Go for firm, slightly unripe ones, as ripe, soft pears will fall apart.
- Use a medium-dry red wine for this recipe—nothing too sweet, or the dessert will be overpowering. There’s no need for pricey wine, but choose a decent, easy-drinking one. The long simmering time cooks off the alcohol.
How to make a baking paper cartouche.
Take a square of baking paper, fold it evenly in half, then in half again to form a square. Fold the square in half (keeping folded edges together otherwise you will end up with two semicircles) to form a triangle.- Hold pointy tip in the middle of the pan and trim the edge of the triangle to fit. Cut a little off the tip as well.
- Unfold and check that you have cut enough off to fit the pan.
- Now scrunch it! Yep, this will help it fit well into the pan.
- Lay the cartouche over the liquid and push right down so that it touches the liquid completely.
Nutritional Estimate Per Serving
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Delicious! Add a dollop of mascarpone sweetened slightly for a treat.
The ideal addition, Rini!
This is one of the gouremt dessert I love to serve around this time of the year! It’s so easy, so flavorful and looks so fancy.
A wonderful sweet dish for this time of year! I make it from time to time but I learned something new in the use the cartouche. Sounds like an excellent idea, which I’ll give a try soon, perhaps even for tonight’s dinner… !
Oh man the colour on those pears is UNREAL and thanks for that scrunching tip with the cartouche. Love it!!
Such a beautiful dessert, and so warming from the lovely spices. Perfect for entertaining!
Poached pears are one of my favourite dessert in winter, so good to serve at the end of a dinner party! I love the idea of adding balsamic vinegar to them – what a clever addition!
These are stunningly beautiful! And you’re right – it’s a safer bet too cook them then risk them raw and not tasting good!
Looks so delicious! Just want to dig right in!
Those pears look absolutely luxurious.