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The dessert, Light and fresh

Red wine poached pears

Red wine poached pears are a dessert for 6 where firm pears simmer gently in wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Active work takes only 25 minutes, but the whole dish is made the day before, making it an easy recipe at €1.90 per person. The key to success is the resting time, the pears need to cool in their syrup to turn a deep garnet color.

For dessert, tender pears poached in cinnamon-spiced red wine, served cold and glazed with their own syrup.

Red wine poached pears
For
6 people
Work
25 min
Total time
1 h 30
Prep
Prepared the day before
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.90
Calories per person
230 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Under a glossy garnet skin, the poached pear hides a tender flesh that still holds a bit of bite. The red wine reduced into syrup brings gentle acidity, while cinnamon, cloves, and star anise add a warm spice note that lifts the fruit without overpowering it. It's a dessert that looks like it took real effort when it mostly just needs patience.

Serve it at the end of a fall or winter meal, after something richer like a braise or a gratin, when you want to end on a fresh note instead of a heavy pastry. It works just as well at a dinner party as at a holiday family meal, especially since it's made entirely the day before, freeing up the day of for the rest of the menu.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 4 steps, 1 h 10
  2. The same day Nothing to do
  3. Before the guests arrive Nothing to do
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

The day before, you peel the pears, poach them in the spiced wine, then let them cool in the syrup before chilling them, that resting time is what gives them their color and flavor. The day of, there's nothing left to do before guests arrive. At serving time, plate one pear per person and spoon over some syrup, barely chilled.

The ingredients

6 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Firm pears (Comice type) 6
  • Untreated orange 1
  • Lemon 1

Pantry

  • Red wine 75 cl
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 120 g
  • Cinnamon sticksoften in the pantry 2
  • Clovesoften in the pantry 3
  • Star aniseoften in the pantry 2

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Peel the pears keeping the stem on, rub them with lemon if you want them to stay pale while you peel. 15 min

    Core them from the bottom with a melon baller, it keeps them looking nice.

  2. Bring the wine to a simmer with the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and the orange zest, then add the pears. 5 min

    Pick a straightforward, fruity wine, it'll give the dessert its color and flavor.

  3. Poach the pears at a gentle simmer, turning them from time to time, then turn off the heat and let them cool in the syrup. 30 min

    Test with the tip of a knife, the flesh should give without falling apart.

  4. Remove the pears, reduce the syrup by half until it coats the back of a spoon, then chill it. 20 min

    The syrup thickens further as it cools, so stop before it gets too syrupy.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Plate one pear per person and spoon the syrup over it.

    Serve barely chilled, too cold and they lose their flavor.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick pears that are still firm to the touch, an overripe pear falls apart during poaching and loses its nice shape on the plate.
  • Keep the pears fully submerged in the wine while poaching, set a small plate on top if needed so they don't float and cook unevenly.
  • Save the reduced syrup in a jar, it's great reused over vanilla ice cream or stirred into yogurt in the days that follow.

The variations

  • Swap the red wine for a sweet white wine for paler pears with a softer, less spiced flavor.
  • Add a split vanilla bean to the syrup along with the spices for a rounder version that kids tend to like too, once the syrup is sweet enough.
  • For a quicker version, halve the pears and cut the poaching time in half, they cook faster and can be served in wedges drizzled with syrup.

What to serve it with

  • A crisp almond tuile
  • A scoop of vanilla ice cream
  • Spiced coffee or tea

Storage

The pears keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in their syrup, in a covered container. They don't freeze well, the flesh turns mushy once thawed. No need to reheat them, serve cold or just slightly chilled, straight from the fridge a bit before plating.

Questions about this recipe

What type of pear works best for this recipe?

Comice pears are ideal since they hold their shape well during poaching. Bosc or Bartlett pears also work well, as long as they're still firm.

Can you poach the pears without alcohol?

Yes, you can swap the red wine for grape juice or grenadine diluted with a bit of water. The result will be sweeter and less fragrant, so cut back slightly on the sugar.

How do you plate the pears so they look nice?

Keep the stem on while peeling for an elegant look, and stand each pear upright on the plate, glazed with shiny syrup. A few fresh mint leaves or sliced almonds finish the plate nicely.

What should I do with leftover poaching syrup?

Keep it in a jar in the fridge, it lasts several days. It's great drizzled over ice cream, stirred into yogurt, or even mixed into a glass of sparkling water.

Can red wine poached pears be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended. The recipe needs 25 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 4 steps, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make red wine poached pears?

Allow 1 h 30 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 25 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "easy".

How many calories are in red wine poached pears?

About 230 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does red wine poached pears cost?

About €1.90 per person, that's €11.40 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe doesn't contain any of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. It's still a good idea to ask your guests about their allergies.

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