Poached pears are my go-to dessert. They look incredibly impressive, but are actually really simple to make. So, if you want a dessert that dazzles, my punchy poached pears are a winner!
I raided my cupboard for spices and picked ginger, cinnamon and star anise to include in the poaching juices, but other spices like cloves, cardamom, saffron and vanilla would also work really well. I poached 2 pears in the juice/syrup, but the quantity below is enough to poach 4 - 6 pears. Once you've poached your pears, you can reduce the syrup further and pour this sticky deliciousness over your pears to serve. Alternatively, enjoy the syrup in a cocktail like I've suggested below. Who doesn’t love a honey-spiced whisky cocktail!?
Punchy Poached Pears and Cocktail
1 Minute Recipe Video!
Music: Secret Sauce by Jef
Poached Pears Ingredients
2 Pears
1 glass of Wine (white or red)
1 glass of Water
5 tbsps Honey
1 tsp ground Ginger
1 Star Anise
1 Cinnamon Stick
juice of 1/2 Lemon
To serve: Ice Cream and your favourite Granola / Nuts
Poached Pears Method
Step 1: Peel the pairs making sure to keep the stalk at the top intact (it looks great for serving!).
Step 2: Into a medium-sized pan add the: Wine, Water, Honey, Ginger, Star Anise and Cinnamon. Stir ingredients together then place the Pears on their side into the juices and add the juice of 1/2 a Lemon.
Step 3: Bring the pan of juices to the boil, then turn the heat down low so that the pears gently simmer. Turn the pears from time to time in the juices.
Step 4: The pears are ready when they are moderately tender and a fork can press through them (around 30-40 minutes). Allow the pears to cool or refrigerate for later.
To Serve: cut the base of the pear so it can stand upright. Serve with Ice Cream and sprinkle with your favourite Granola / Nuts.
Whisky Cocktail
Step 1: After poaching the pears, remove the pears and strain the pear juices/syrup through a sieve into a bowl.
Step 2: In a short glass/tumbler, add:
3 Ice Cubes
1 shot of Whisky
2 shots of Pear Juices/Syrup
top up with Tonic Water
Step 3: Stir ingredients together.
Step 4: add a squeeze of Lemon, serve with a shard of Cinnamon on the side of the glass