Wine Poached Pears

This way of poaching pears is delicious. The addition of cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf add an amazing bouquet and exotic flavors. The addition of orange juice also adds a fruity touch to the sauce. You can serve it with heavy cream, ice cream, and or simply with its sauce as it is so rich and flavorful.



What You Need:

• 4 or 6 pears
• 2 cups red wine (a fruity one is great)
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves
• 1 bay leaf

What To Do:

Peel the pears and cut the bottom so the pear can stand on its own.
(I have also made with pears cut in big chunks) 

Put the pears sideways in a saucepan with all the ingredients over medium high heat. The liquid should cover the pears. If it doesn't add water.
When the liquid boils turn the heat down and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the pears are tender but not falling apart.

You know the pears are ready when a paring knife easily pierces the pear.

Remove the pears from the pan and reserve.

Remove the cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf from the pan. Turn up the heat and let the juice reduce to a syrupy consistency. Reduce it to about 1/3. Just let the sauce boil and keep watching.

The syrup should be thick and if it's not thick enough add a bit of corn flour dissolved in a bit of wine and stir constantly until the sauce thickens more.
Store the syrup separate from the pears.

Serve the pears with vanilla ice cream, Chantilly or both adding a generous amount of the wine sauce.