Poached Pears in Red Wine

These delicious Poached Pears in Red Wine are an elegant and easy-to-make dessert, especially over the holidays and for special occasions. Simmer fresh and ripe pears in fruity red wine, spices, and vanilla bean to enhance the natural sweetness of the fruit.

This classic French dessert is easy to make ahead, and it makes a beautiful presentation at a dinner party or a special holiday dinner that will wow your guests!

The red wine syrup is so good that you just might want to eat it by itself! For more elegant and delicious desserts, try my Vegan Plum Cake and Vegan Chocolate Fig Cupcakes, or this Vegan Blood Orange Chocolate Cake.

Jump to:

• Which pears are best for poaching?
• How to select a red wine
• Ingredients
• Equipment
• How to make Poached Pears in Red Wine
• How to serve
• Expert Tips
• Variations
• Substitutions
• Storage
• FAQ
• Related recipes
• Recipe

If you'd like to try another fruit compote, be sure to try this cherry compote.

Which pears are best for poaching?

Firm yet ripe pears such as Anjou, Bartlett pears, Bosc, Comice, or Russet Bosc pears will work for this recipe. Choose small pears without blemishes, if possible.

How to select a red wine

Choose a bottle of red wine such as a Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône, Merlot, Shiraz, or Zinfandel. Choose an inexpensive vegan-friendly fruity red wine you enjoy drinking!

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make these red wine pears:

• Firm yet ripe fresh pears - the ripeness of your pears is important.
• Fruity red wine such as Beaujolais, Gamay, Pinot Noir - check with Barnivore to ensure it's vegan. There is no need to choose an expensive wine, choose your favorite red wine.
• Orange juice - use fresh orange juice whenever possible.
• Organic cane sugar - this is vegan.
• Cardamom pods - optional.
• Cloves - use whole cloves.
• Cinnamon stick for flavor and spice.
• Star anise for spice.
• Vanilla pod - cut a vanilla bean in half, then cut that half lengthwise.

Equipment

• A vegetable peeler for peeling the pears.
• Slotted spoon for turning the pears over occasionally.
• Heavy saucepan - approximately 3-quart; a 4-quart saucepan is sufficient.

How to make Poached Pears in Red Wine

It's easy to make this delicious dessert, even if it is your first time. The fragrant aroma emanating from the kitchen while the pears are poaching is irresistible!

You will poach the pears in red wine, orange juice, sugar, and spices; the red wine poaching liquid will reduce to a delicious red wine sauce that you can serve with the pears.

Prepare the pears for poaching

• Wash and dry the pears. Cut a thin horizontal slice on the bottom of each pear. Use a melon baller to take out the core; start at the bottom. Leave the stems on the pears. Peel the skins off the pears with a peeler.

Poach the pears

• 1) Make the hot poaching liquid: Place the wine, water, orange zest, orange juice, cane sugar, spices, and vanilla bean into a saucepan that is large enough to hold all of the pears. Mix and bring to a gentle simmer. Place the pears into saucepan carefully, making sure they are covered with the liquid, and tilt the pears on their sides.

• 2) Simmer: Bring the saucepan to a low simmer, cover the saucepan, and simmer for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, until the pears are tender. While they are cooking, gently rotate them every few minutes with a slotted spoon to ensure they cook evenly in the poaching liquid.

Note: Be gentle to avoid bruising the sides of the pears.

Check a pear for doneness with a paring knife - if you meet no resistance, the pears are done.

Let cool

3) Let cool and refrigerate: Remove the saucepan from the stove top when they are cooked through yet firm. Carefully pick the pears up by their stems or with a slotted spoon.

Once the pears are cool, place them in an airtight glass container and refrigerate with the cooled poaching liquid, straining out any solids. Gently rotate the pears so that all sides absorb the red wine poaching liquid.

Reduce the red wine syrup

4) Reduce the red wine syrup before serving. Set the pears aside while you do this, and cook the syrup over low-medium heat until it reduces by at least half, maybe a little more. This can take from 15 to 30 minutes.

Hint: Check the consistency with a spoon, the syrup should cling to the spoon. If it runs off easily, it needs to cook down more. Let the red wine reduction cool before serving.

How to serve

If you choose to serve a whole pear per serving, then this recipe will serve 4. Otherwise, if you serve half a pear, it will serve 8. A whole pear with the delicious sauce is filling, so keep that in mind if your main course was hearty and substantial. Here are some serving suggestions:

• Place half a pear in a bowl and spoon the red wine syrup over the pears. Add a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or coconut whipped cream if desired.

• Serve these pears warmed or at room temperature with the reduced red wine sugar syrup along with whipped coconut cream or vegan vanilla ice cream.

• Add them to another dessert such as a tart or a pavlova or serve them at brunch.

• Have them for breakfast with vegan yogurt or serve them with pancakes or waffles.

• Drizzle melted vegan dark chocolate over the pears to make Poire Belle Hélène! Serve with vegan vanilla ice cream and top with sliced and toasted almonds.

Expert Tips

• This recipe is best with ripe pears. Do not choose pears that are overripe, otherwise, they will turn mushy while cooking. If you choose pears that are not ripe enough, you will need to cook them longer, up to 1 to 1 ½ hours and they will not be as sweet.

• As the pears poach, rotate them gently to make sure they cook evenly on all sides.

Variations

• Add lemon juice, slices of orange, or ginger.

• Kid-friendly: Make a double recipe of my simple syrup for poaching with spices, citrus zest, and dried fruit, or poach with fruit juice such as grape juice, apple juice, cranberry juice, or apple cider.

• Non-alcoholic: You can try a non-alcoholic wine or try the suggestions above. Here is a list of alcohol substitutions in cooking. It is hard to say how much alcohol is contained in this dessert because it depends on the cooking method, the alcohol and the amount, and the cooking time.

• Short on time: I recommend making this dessert the day before you plan to serve it. You can cut the pears in half lengthwise and core them before poaching them. They will likely cook faster; check for doneness with a paring knife at around 10 minutes of simmering time.

Substitutions

Red wine: Try late harvest Gewurztraminer, or add Grand Marnier, bourbon, whisky, or brandy.

Orange juice: Try apple cider, cranberry juice, grape juice, or pomegranate juice.

Organic cane sugar: Try different sweeteners such as coconut sugar or brown sugar, or maple syrup.

Storage

Refrigerate the pears for up to 5 days.

Do not freeze them.

FAQ

Related recipes

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