I thought I missed picking the pears this year, but I was lucky to have found a few on the ground while pottering around the nearby woodland.
I picked the few good ones; the rest were rotting and half-eaten.
I took home enough for our dessert tonight.
Back home, I checked them, they were a bit frozen but firm, smaller than regular pears.
I washed and peeled them.
I made up a recipe based on what was available in the larder. I thought of poaching them in my blackberry wine, some spices and the natural sweetness of honey to create a luxurious, festive poached pear dish that brings up that Christmas vibe!
Here it is...
Blackberry Wine & Honey Poached Pears 🍷
Ingredients 🍐
(just need one or 1/2 start anise)
Six ripe pears (small, 4 medium)
2 cups (500 ml) blackberry wine or any wine.
1/2 cup (120 ml) honey (adjust to taste)
1/4 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
1 star anise
Peel of 1 orange (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean, split
Optional Garnishes:
Fresh blackberries, mint or herbs
Whipped cream, mascarpone, or vanilla ice cream
Crushed nuts or dark chocolate shavings
Instructions 🍐
Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact for presentation.
Slice a small section off the bottom of each pear to help them stand upright if desired.
In a medium saucepan, combine the blackberry wine, honey, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, orange peel (if using), and vanilla.
Heat gently over medium heat, stirring until the honey dissolves.
Place the pears in the saucepan, ensuring they are mostly submerged. Turn occasionally for even cooking.
Simmer gently for 30 minutes or until the pears are tender and infused with the wine's deep colour.
Remove the pears from the saucepan and set aside.
Increase the heat slightly and simmer the poaching liquid until it reduces to a syrupy consistency, about 10 minutes.
Serve 🍐
Arrange the pears on serving plates and drizzle them with the reduced wine syrup or-
Serve warm on hot syrup, on top of whipped cream or mascarpone, and some herbs like mint.
or sprinkle with nuts or chocolate for extra indulgence.
It is soft, warm and comforting, bursting with bold fruit flavours and warm spices.
It's perfect as a festive treat.
A lovely day to all!
Mariah 🍐😊🍷