Wine Poached Pears are simple yet so elegant and perfect to show off at any party. Simmering pears in red wine and some spices enhances the sweetness of the fruit and adds warm flavor. Wine poached pear takes some time as you want to slow cook but overall it is very effortless.

Poached pears are perfect Fall desserts, and you don't have to restrict to wine. Although, wine poached pear does have its charm.

Wine Poached Pear is a classic French dessert, and I believe it started as a way to enjoy unripe pears. A great way to maximize their harvest without wasting or throwing away unripe fruits.

I love to serve it mildly warm and then topped it with reduced red wine sauce and some whipped cream. You can make it extra special by adding mascarpone cheese too.

What Pears are best for Wine Poached Pear

I personally prefer Bosc Pears for two different reason.

The texture is smooth and not too fibrous. It is dense and crunchy. Makes it easy to cut through and melts in the mouth at every bite.
The shape is gorgeous and stands tall when served. Looks utterly incredible, like a showstopper dessert.

KEY POINT - You want to pick pears that are not over ripe. As the pears poach for a while in the spiced liquid, it will cook and soften. So you definitely don't want the over ripe ones.

Just feel the pears and it should feel firm. Also, the skin should be smooth. Wrinkled skin means over ripe pears.

Wine selection for Wine Poached Pears

Preferably fruit-forward red wine. I used Merlot. But if you are using lots of whole spices for the aroma then go for any good red wine, something not too expensive, probably.

It is said that Zinfandel, Shiraz, or Merlot works best. I prefer Merlot!

Spices used:

Star Anise

Cloves

Bay leaves

Cinnamon Sticks

Cardamoms

The Red Wine Sauce

After the pears are poached to the perfect texture, I take it out and reduce the sauce further, add little butter to turn into this delicious red wine sauce.

The red wine sauce is not only delicious on the poached pear, you can also save it and use it with grilled steak.

What other sauce can be used ?

Instead of reducing the red wine, you can strain it and drink it as warm mulled wine.

A simple chocolate sauce works great too on wine poached pears.

How to use poached pear?

You can enjoy it as it with whipped cream or mascarpone cheese.

Poached pears are great with waffles or pancakes.

You can also use the poached pears on chocolate cake. Here is a recipe you can try.

This Holiday Season, wow yours friends and family with this simple but gorgeous looking dessert. 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

Kankana Saxena

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Servings pears

Ingredients

4 ripe and firm pears (I used bosc pears)
1-½ cup red wine (I used Merlot)
½ cup white/brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick
2- star anise
2 bay leaves
few cardamoms
2 tablespoons butter (this is for the red wine sauce)

Instructions

Peel the pears and try to retain the stem.
In a sauce pan big enough to fit all the pears, pour the wine, lemon juice, vanilla extract along with sugar and all the whole spices. Bring it to boil and then bring down the heat to let it simmers for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, gently place the pears and let it simmer in medium low heat for 15 minutes.
Toss the pear to the other side very gently and let it continue to simmer for another 5 minutes.
Gently poke the pear with a knife. If it feels soft, it is ready.
Carefully remove the pears to a serving plate.
Continue simmering the wine until it's reduced a lot. When it starts to look sauce like consistency, add the butter and whisk. The butter will add a creamy, rich taste to the wine poached pear.
Strain the sauce to a serving cup.
Whipped heavy cream or mascarpone cheese to serve along with the wine poached pear and red wine sauce.

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Servings

Comments

Tina (PinayInTexas)
February 18, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Simple but very attractive, Kankana! Just the perfect dessert for a lovely occasion!
rebecca
February 17, 2012 at 4:22 pm
wow stunning 🙂 first class and adore the way you celebrated
Magic of Spice
February 17, 2012 at 11:25 am
I adore poached pears...delicious and elegant!
Sukanya
February 17, 2012 at 11:04 am
Oh,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.
Daisy@Nevertoosweet
February 17, 2012 at 10:51 am
This sounds great! I love poached pears but it's so hard to make it properly >_< Congrats for being Top 9!
Divya Yadava
February 17, 2012 at 10:22 am
Love 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.
sukanya ramkumar
February 17, 2012 at 9:19 am
Nice pic... Congrats on ur success. Perfect clicks!!!!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
February 17, 2012 at 7:21 am
They 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!
Purabi Naha
February 17, 2012 at 7:12 am
Hey Kankana, just buzzed this to 97. Congrats on being at Top 9 once again! This really looks so so so tempting! Well-deserved success!
Matt @ RecipeLion
February 17, 2012 at 6:38 am
This 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
Deepa
February 17, 2012 at 6:22 am
You are killing me with these gorgeous looking pears !! seriously drool worthy pictures..
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Tes
February 17, 2012 at 5:43 am
What a beautiful dish, Kankana! Your pear looks really perfect 🙂
Kitchen Belleicious
February 17, 2012 at 4:36 am
Ummm. 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.
nisha
February 17, 2012 at 4:22 am
i 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
Jennifer (Delicieux)
February 17, 2012 at 1:24 am
I 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.
Chrissy
February 16, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Congrats 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. 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes
February 16, 2012 at 9:36 pm
What a fabulous dessert! My husband loves pears, but usually just eating them raw...must try to make some desserts for him next time.
mustardseed
February 16, 2012 at 6:23 pm
This looks so elegant! Love the color and that chocolate!!
Charles
February 16, 2012 at 10:58 am
Hi 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!
nipponnin
February 16, 2012 at 10:43 am
Absolutely fantastic and sophisticate looking! You are so good!

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