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Vanilla & white wine poached pears

Vanilla & white wine poached pears in a jar, with a single serving alongside with ice cream and hot chocolate sauce

Vanilla & white wine poached pears

Name: Vanilla & white wine poached pears
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Makes 2 x 1-litre jars (serves 8)
Ingredients: 300g caster sugar; 2 small cinnamon sticks; 1 vanilla pod split and seeds scraped out; 10 cardamom pods; 300ml white wine (we used chardonnay); 1 unwaxed lemon; 10 small, firm pears (we used Forelle); ice cream or hot chocolate sauce, to serve (optional)

Cassie Best

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Makes 2 x 1-litre jars (serves 8)

Easy

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 30 mins

A star rating of 4.8 out of 5.6 ratingsRate

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Make a batch of poached pears and store them in jars to give as part of a homemade Christmas hamper. They go beautifully with ice cream or hot chocolate sauce

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

300g caster sugar
2 small cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla pod

split and seeds scraped out
10 cardamom pods
300ml white wine

(we used chardonnay)
1 unwaxed lemon
10 small, firm pears

(we used Forelle)
ice cream

or hot chocolate sauce, to serve (optional)

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Nutrition: Per serving

kcal143
fat0.2g
saturates0g
carbs31g
sugars31g
fibre4g
protein1g
salt0.01g

Method

step 1

Before you start, cut out a circle of baking parchment using a large pan as a template. (This is called a cartouche, and will cover the pears later – it should be the same size as the pan to keep the pears submerged and the liquid from evaporating too quickly). Set aside. Tip the sugar, cinnamon sticks, vanilla seeds and pod, cardamom, wine and 200ml water into the pan. Peel strips of the lemon zest, avoiding the pith. Drop in the strips of zest, then warm over a low heat until the mix is steaming and the sugar has dissolved.
step 2

Peel the pears, leaving the stalks intact. Slice in half lengthways through the core, then use a melon baller or small, sharp knife to remove the hard core and pips. Carefully place the pears in the steaming liquid, then turn up the heat to medium- low and bring to a simmer. Cover the surface with the circle of baking parchment and cook the pears for 20-30 mins, or until they can be pierced with the tip of a knife with little resistance.
step 3

Meanwhile, sterilise two 1-litre jam jars. When the pears are cooked and still hot, transfer to the jars with any aromatics from the pan. Top up with the poaching liquid so the pears are covered. Seal and leave to cool. Will keep for up to six months in a cool place. Serve with ice cream or hot chocolate sauce, if you like.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2021

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A star rating of 4.8 out of 5.6 ratings

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