For this recipe I used a 500ml bottle of Blueberry dessert wine from https://coastalblack.ca/. The alcohol content is 21% which makes it the perfect wine for cooking this delicious french dish. In Episode 4 of the All Seasons Vegan cooking show, I had a fabulous tour by Justine, one of the owners at Coastal Black Winery. After the tour, I was invited to make these Wine Poached Pears at their farm and then shared a tasting of them with Justine and her family. Apparently Justine’s husband Dan almost ate the entire dessert. Sounds very much like my Dan.
My Measurements Tips
- T – is for Tablespoon
- t – is for teaspoon
When you plan to make this delightful dish, most red or berry wines are great. The outcome in taste and colour will vary depending on the wine you choose and that is what makes this dish so exciting as well. Rule of thumb…choose a red wine you love. Wine Poached Pears is such a versatile dessert. Below in this blog are 4 ways I like to enjoy them. On Episode 4, I paired them with a slice of my Harvest Pear Cake and a scoop of vegan vanilla ice-cream. This Harvest cake recipe can be found on my website under desserts.
Wine Poached Pears are a classic French dessert that originated in the wine-growing territories of Burgundy and Lyon. The French used it as a way to consume fruits that were not ripening to their liking on the tree; this way the fruit would not go to waste. I just love when farmers create recipes to utilize crops that commonly would have gone to waste.
This recipe is always a conversation piece btw, I mean come’on look at how beautiful it is right! It tastes incredible too, is so easy to make and takes very little time at all.
Here are few other ways I like to enjoy these delicious Wine Poached Pears.
- slice over raisin toast
- diced over fresh pancakes
- sliced and served as a pairing on a vegan charcuterie board
- making a wine poached pair jam
Harvest Poached Pears
- Yields- 4 to 5 sweet ripened pears
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 to 15 minute low boil
MUST HAVES
- medium sized pot
- tongs
- marble mortar and pestle
WHAT TO GRAB
Ingredients
- 4 to 5 fresh ripened sweet pears, peeled
- 500ml of blueberry alcohol dessert wine
- 3 whole star anise
- 10 cardamom pods mashed into little pieces
- + 5 whole cardamom
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/8 t clove powder
- 1 t cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Peel the pears.
- Add the wine to the pot.
- Break down the whole cardamom into small pieces and pour them into the pot.
- Add all the other ingredients except for the pears and whisk well.
- Turn the burner to medium heat.
- Using tongs, place the pears into the pot.
- Turn the pears in the wine occasionally ensuring all sides of the pear get equal poaching.
- Test to see if the pears are ready by picking one with a sharp knife. If the knife goes through easily the pears are ready.
- Place each pear onto the desired plate and enjoy.