No one needs a special day to celebrate love but when there is a day dedicated for love, why not enjoy it! We never go big on Valentine’s Day but it’s a special day in our calendar and we like to celebrate it in our own little way. Eating out is always an option but the thought of waiting for a seat and sitting in a crowded restaurant somehow kills the celebration mood for us.
We like it quiet, cozy and what’s a better place for that than your own home.
It was a sunny day and that had already cheered me up. Then, when Arvind came home with a pot of pink lilies and pollen dust on the tip of his nose, I screamed and jumped like a kid! My heart melted, he just knows how to make me happy! He remembered my favorite flower 🙂
So to celebrate the occasion, I made a simple dinner and two fancy desserts, one of which was the wine poached pear. It was probably one of the easiest desserts I ever made. It takes absolutely no effort and I think it looks very attractive too!
I picked some brown pears, which I think are called Bosc Pears. These are my favorite – sweet and crunchy. They were not very firm but firm enough to use in this dessert. It took me about 30 minutes to poach these pears, but it might take longer time depending on the firmness of the pears.
Poached pear could either be served plain with some cream on the side or with some sauce of your choice.
Chocolate and mint is not one of my favorite combinations but this time, I wanted to try it out. So, I dropped few fresh mint leaves while making the sauce. It came out really good! It was chocolaty with very little hint of refreshing mint flavor.
You won’t believe how easy and flavorful this dessert is, until you give it a try!
Wine poached Pear with Chocolate and Mint sauce
Ingredients
- 3 ripe and firm pears, I used bosc pears
- 1-1/2 cup red wine, something flavorful and not too strong
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 2 bay leaves
For the sauce
- 6 to 7 fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Peal the skins from the pear and try to retain the stem.
- Pour wine, lemon juice, vanilla extract along with sugar, bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon stick and cinnamon powder in a deep-bottom pan.
- Bring it to a boil.
- Then, drop the pears very carefully in the pan and bring the heat to medium low.
- Let it simmer for about 12-14 minutes.
- Toss the pear to the other side very gently and let it continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool.
- Once it's cooled, remove the pear using a slotted spoon and keep it on the serving plates.
- Turn the heat on and continue boiling the wine in the pan until it's reduced to half .
- Mix cocoa powder with water and add it to the pan.
- Add butter and heavy cream and keep stirring for about 2 minutes.
- It will start looking smooth and silky. Add the mint leaves and continue boiling for 2 more minutes.
- Check for sugar and if it's not sweet enough for you, add some more and the sauce is done.
- Discard the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, star anise and mint leaves.
- Pour the sauce on the pear and enjoy it with some whipped cream, creme fraiche or ice-cream.
Notes
You can poach pears in advance and let it refrigerate for a couple of days. You can either serve it cold or boil the sauce for 2 minutes and serve it warm. If you don't like wine , you can use pomegranate juice or cranberry juice and that will give the gorgeous red color. If you however don't care for color you can choose any citrus juice.
I am sharing this dessert recipe with Recipe Lion for February blog hop.
Comments are closed.
Grishma
February 15, 2012 at 8:30 PMKankana, it’s just perfectly gorgeous! Today only i bought some fabulous pears thinking will make poached pear and here u r with this delicious looking poached pears! Making it very soon babe! Thank u!
BTW what can I use to substitute red wine?
Kankana Saxena
February 15, 2012 at 8:34 PMThanks 🙂 If you are looking for color use cranberry juice or pomegranate juice but if you don’t care for the red color.. use any fruit juice you like or vanilla with water. Hope this helps babe. Let me know hoe it turns out 🙂
Grishma
February 15, 2012 at 8:37 PMAahh make sense! And yes it helps. Will let u know once I make it. Thanks!
Ambika
February 15, 2012 at 8:33 PMAbsolutely gorgeous poached pears! I have been seeing these for a while and have been wanting to try them! We also like it quiet and cozy, I cooked up a Indo-Chinese meal for hubby dear and happily ate at home, no dessert trouble because he doesn’t really have a sweet tooth! I also need to try out mint and chocolate together, its not one of my favorites either. I only like the breath mints at olive garden :D, nothing more than that!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
February 15, 2012 at 8:45 PMLove the gorgeous color the wine gives the pears.
Nami | Just One Cookbook
February 15, 2012 at 8:47 PMI honestly didn’t know poached pear is this easy. It always looks fancy so I assume it requires some technique or special skills. I’ll need to try with wine for my husband and maybe if it’s too much alcohol taste, I use the method you just answered in earlier comment. That way kids and I can share. 🙂 I like the chocolate sauce pouring on the pear. The plate is small, so you only had a few seconds to take a perfect shot before overflowing from the plate…and you nailed it! 😉
Liren
February 15, 2012 at 9:30 PMI agree that Valentines is all the more sweet when celebrated at home! It has always been like that for us, even before the kids and the difficulty of finding a sitter presented itself. These pears are just jewels under your hands…you make it look so easy! And gorgeous!
Amy Tong
February 15, 2012 at 9:45 PMLooks lovely. I’ve never made poached pear before and it sound super easy and delicious. The mint chocolate sauce sounds wonderful with these pears too. Love your photography! Simply stunning. 🙂
Reem | Simply Reem
February 15, 2012 at 9:50 PMI totally agree with you, Valentine and eating out is a combination for stress…
B/W with 2 kids we prefer celebrating low key…
Reem | Simply Reem
February 15, 2012 at 9:52 PMOpps sorry pressed enter in mid… LOL
These pears look fantastic, i have to agree with nami, with juice or flavored water kids can share them too…
Lovely pics babes…
Kulsum at JourneyKitchen
February 15, 2012 at 10:20 PMLove the color here! So pretty.
Maja
February 15, 2012 at 10:39 PMOh my God, Kanakana, this looks truly spectacular: nothing can beat this fancy dessert, pears and red wine 🙂 I love the sauce, too!
I love your photos, they are truly amazing!
kisses
Rosa
February 15, 2012 at 10:46 PMA gorgeous dessert! I love poached pears. Lovely color.
We keep Valentine’s Day low key and always stay home.
Cheers,
Rosa
Medeja
February 16, 2012 at 12:44 AMThat is something I always wanted to try 🙂
Rose ( Magpie's Recipes)
February 16, 2012 at 12:55 AMHow pretty is that?! happy Vday girl! So waiting to see you and the others 🙂
Soni
February 16, 2012 at 2:37 AMI also make poached pears,aren’t they just fantastic!! But haven’t tried them with the chocolate sauce.Sure looks delicious!!
Joanne
February 16, 2012 at 4:42 AMI don’t typically LOVE V-Day but a day dedicated to decadent desserts? I’ll take it! This looks SO good.
Soma
February 16, 2012 at 5:35 AMHappy Valentine’s Day. Poached pears are one of our fave. and easiest desserts to make. Love it. Beautiful photographs Kankana.
sally
February 16, 2012 at 7:12 AMWhat a beautiful dessert! It looks perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Jeno @ Week Nite Meals
February 16, 2012 at 7:50 AMAwww, it’s so sweet that your husband brought your favorite flowers to celebrate V-Day! The poached pears turned out absolutely gorgeous, I am not a big fan of mint and chocolate, though I am sure it was a wonderful combination with the pears. Thank you for sharing, as always, I love looking at your photography works!
Priya
February 16, 2012 at 8:13 AMHappy pear couple, celebrating the Valentines day!
So wet and wild…I’m left alone infront of my computer with a great treat for eyes, a longing taste buds and sweet tooth. Food porn, like prerna says, is an apt word!
Vijitha
February 16, 2012 at 9:34 AMI have been wanting to try this dessert for a long time. But kept it for the future days. Sounds simple and easy na? Gorgeous clicks. I loved the pears with a rustic backdrop the most. See you soon. Hugs!
nipponnin
February 16, 2012 at 10:43 AMAbsolutely fantastic and sophisticate looking! You are so good!
Charles
February 16, 2012 at 10:58 AMHi Kankana, I love poached pears – I find reducing the remaining wine with extra sugar to create a thick wine syrup, and pouring in a bit of cream on top at the end makes an amazing sauce as well, though I love the idea of chocolate and mint sauce too. I think chocolate alone would be quite rich, but with the added “freshness” of the mint it must be a wonderful combination!
mustardseed
February 16, 2012 at 6:23 PMThis looks so elegant! Love the color and that chocolate!!
[email protected]'s Recipes
February 16, 2012 at 9:36 PMWhat a fabulous dessert! My husband loves pears, but usually just eating them raw…must try to make some desserts for him next time.
Chrissy
February 16, 2012 at 11:08 PMCongrats on top 9, also! Yay for our red wine-poached pears! Love the chocolate sauce on yours. I was strongly debating this, so now I am so excited for this version the next time I make this ridiculously good dessert. 🙂
Jennifer (Delicieux)
February 17, 2012 at 1:24 AMI love poached pears…that red colour the wine has given them is just so gorgeous! And that photo of your chocolate mint sauce is just so beautiful.
nisha
February 17, 2012 at 4:22 AMi absolutely agree…its one of the easiest desserts possible..i love how the mulled spices mix in with the wine..lovely pics as usual 🙂
And lilies…used 2 be my fav, till the pollen started staining my pretty table cloth and such :O
Kitchen Belleicious
February 17, 2012 at 4:36 AMUmmm. DROOOL! My keyboard is all wet now! Wow, those pears look amazing and I love the combo of chocolate and pears. Can’t be beat! Great recipe and job and as always the pictures are phenomenal.
Tes
February 17, 2012 at 5:43 AMWhat a beautiful dish, Kankana! Your pear looks really perfect 🙂
Deepa
February 17, 2012 at 6:22 AMYou are killing me with these gorgeous looking pears !! seriously drool worthy pictures..
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Matt @ RecipeLion
February 17, 2012 at 6:38 AMThis dessert looks great! I would love it if you linked up this recipe to my blog hop for a chance to win a cookbook prize package: http://bit.ly/wJSl1h
Purabi Naha
February 17, 2012 at 7:12 AMHey Kankana, just buzzed this to 97. Congrats on being at Top 9 once again! This really looks so so so tempting! Well-deserved success!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
February 17, 2012 at 7:21 AMThey turned out beautiful. I also posted poached pears this past Sunday. But I love how your red wine ones look. Congrats on the Foodbuzz top 9!
sukanya ramkumar
February 17, 2012 at 9:19 AMNice pic… Congrats on ur success. Perfect clicks!!!!
Divya Yadava
February 17, 2012 at 10:22 AMLove the idea of pouring chocolate on top of poached pears. I usually poach my pears in herbal tea for a milder flavour, but wine sounds awesome too! Congrats on top 9.
[email protected]
February 17, 2012 at 10:51 AMThis sounds great! I love poached pears but it’s so hard to make it properly >_< Congrats for being Top 9!
Sukanya
February 17, 2012 at 11:04 AMOh,dear this is just a fantastic and real fancy dessert, I love poaching the pears in wine too or sometime in amaretto, but never try pouring chocolate over it, guess it will make decadent, and rich
we too prefer to make Vday low key, baked an Oreo Cheesecake for us, just posted it.
Magic of Spice
February 17, 2012 at 11:25 AMI adore poached pears…delicious and elegant!
rebecca
February 17, 2012 at 4:22 PMwow stunning 🙂 first class and adore the way you celebrated
Tina (PinayInTexas)
February 18, 2012 at 8:35 PMSimple but very attractive, Kankana! Just the perfect dessert for a lovely occasion!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
February 20, 2012 at 10:17 AMWhat an elegant but easy dessert, Kankana! This looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing. You have a lovely blog and I’m glad to have found you!
Malli
February 20, 2012 at 11:26 AMWhat a delicious poached pear dessert…looks awesome and tempting!
Asmita
February 20, 2012 at 4:36 PMHi Kankana,
This looks like a gorgeous dessert. Very elegant and love the idea of chocolate sauce over the poached pears. As usual, your photographs are beautiful!!!
sweetsugarbelle
February 20, 2012 at 4:37 PMThis is stunning!
[email protected]
February 21, 2012 at 5:49 AMVery lovely pear recipe and pictures. Dreamy. I love chocolate sauce and I love pears. Beautiful blog.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
February 21, 2012 at 12:50 PMDreamy chocolate perfectly paired with poached pears — I don’t know how did I missed this recipe 😀
foodwanderings
February 21, 2012 at 5:16 PMSimply elegant! Pinned my friend & I believe retweeted too!! Great post!
Sara{OneTribeGourmet}
February 21, 2012 at 8:05 PMWonderful delicious dessert! Love your photography!
Sawsan @ chef in disguise
February 23, 2012 at 12:37 PMI was going to ask if I can do this without the wine and I am really thankful you answered this in the first comment.
This looks like an elegant dessert and yet it is so simple.
Thank you for sharing and for the amazing pictures Kankana
Namitha
February 23, 2012 at 2:41 PMThough I’m not a big fan of poached pears,your pictures are making me want to have them 🙂 Such an elegant dessert,K
Baker Street
February 25, 2012 at 1:07 AMI LOVE the shot of chocolate being poured over! Absolutely gorgeous.
Ananda Rajashekar
March 5, 2012 at 9:16 AMBackground stoles and min, complements the dessert so well, just gorgeous!
Athena
March 18, 2012 at 7:36 AMI’ve never had poached pear but i really love the idea of pouring mint-infused chocolate on fruit. Yours looks beautiful!
Kajal
April 23, 2012 at 8:47 PMThis looks amazing!! Poached Pears are SO classy and yet so delish!