Make Ahead

Poached Pears in Red Wine

by:
November 26, 2013
4.6
5 Ratings
Poached Pears in Red Wine
Photo by Eric Moran
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

This recipe is adapted from The Still River Cafe, a restaurant whose kitchen I worked in for a stretch. We used to poach huge vats of these, but they're much easier at home. Make a batch, and then eat the leftovers on yogurt and in oatmeal. —Kenzi Wilbur

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 cups red wine (I use an inexpensive, medium-dry wine)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • Peels from 1 orange
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • A small handful of thyme
  • 6 firm but ripe pears, peeled, cored, stems left intact (or just peeled)
Directions
  1. Combine everything save for the pears in a large, heavy saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer. Add pears, and bring everything back up to a simmer.
  2. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer slowly until pears are tender when pierced with knife, about 25 minutes. (But start checking at 20 minutes! Depending on the ripeness of your pears, this could take slightly less or more time.)
  3. Transfer pears to a plate or platter. Boil liquid in saucepan until reduced to 3 cups, about 20 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead -- just cover and chill pears in the poaching liquid. Before serving, rewarm over medium-low heat until pears are heated through, or simply serve them at room temperature.)
  4. If you like, reserve one cup of the poaching liquid and reduce it down into a syrup to use for drizzling when you serve. Or, serve with vanilla ice cream.
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6 Reviews

meet Y.
meet Y. February 14, 2017
I love this recipe and all of the secondary treats you can make with them! I was thinking about under-poaching them a bit, and then using the pears and some of the reduced sauce to make a tarte tatin? Any tips? Is that crazy?
 
Vera K.
Vera K. December 16, 2015
I love this recipe but I omit the sugar, it's not needed for my taste, and the water.
I also let the pears simmer for about an hour instead of 25 min and that gets them to a nice color. I use not too ripe Bosc pears and they still hold up well after a whole hour.
I serve this with freshly whipped cream and use the leftover sauce to make jam.
 
David F.
David F. December 4, 2015
I have to agree with Arakasi, Whats the trick, my pears -Not even close to the picture. Where do we find the answer to our questions
 
Arakasi
Arakasi October 23, 2015
My pears did not get anywhere near that wine-colored.
 
Beauty F.
Beauty F. September 22, 2014
Wonderful photo... such an elegant peeled pears!
 
LauriL
LauriL June 6, 2014
I just love this photo!! Too beautiful to eat!