Comice Pears In Spicy Red Wine Recipes

POACHED PEARS IN SPICED RED WINE

Steps:

• Halve the vanilla pod lengthways, scrape out the black seeds and put in a large saucepan with the wine, sugar, cinnamon and thyme. Cut each piece of pod into three long thin strips, add to pan, then lower in the pears.
• Poach the pears, covered, for 20-30 mins, making sure they are covered in the wine. The cooking time will very much depend on the ripeness of your pears - they should be tender all the way through when pierced with a cocktail stick. You can make these up to 2 days ahead and chill.
• Take the pears from the pan, then boil the liquid to reduce it by half so that it's syrupy. Serve each pear with the cooled syrup, a strip of vanilla, a piece of cinnamon and a small thyme sprig.

SPICED POACHED PEAR COCKTAIL WITH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• In a small sauce pan combine water, wine, sugar, cinnamon, star anise and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce to a simmer. Add the chopped pears and cook until pears are soft and the liquid becomes syrupy, about 30 minutes.
• Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean glass jar. Don't press the pears or the syrup will become cloudy. Discard the solids and chill syrup until ready to use.
• In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, Lillet, lemon juice and pear syrup. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
• Strain into 2 cocktail glasses. Twist the rosemary sprigs a few times to release the oils and garnish each glass.

PEARS ROASTED IN RED WINE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut a small slice off the bottom of each pear so they sit up. Put the pears into a casserole dish and pour over the wine. Cut the butter into cubes and push a cube onto the top of each pear. Sprinkle over the sugar, scatter in the cinnamon and star anise. Cover with a lid or foil, then bake in the oven for 30 mins.
• Remove the pears from the oven, baste them well in their juices, then return to the oven, uncovered, for 40 mins, basting occasionally, until the pears are soft and wrinkled. The pears can be prepared to this point up to 2 days ahead and reheated in a low oven. Serve the pears warm with the juices and a spoonful of something creamy, such as mascarpone.

COMICE PEARS IN SPICY RED WINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150°C/gas
• Put all the ingredients except the pears and cream into a heatproof casserole with a close-fitting lid. Bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, peel the pears, leaving the stalks intact, and add to the poaching liquid. Cover, and then put in the oven for 1½-2 hours depending on the ripeness and size of the pears. (If making ahead, leave to cool, then chill for 1-2 days.)
• To serve, remove the pears to a serving plate, place the casserole back on the heat, and reduce the liquid until it reaches a syrupy consistency,(you can add some arrowroot at this stage if desired). Strain it over the pears, which should now look glossy and red.
• Serve with the clotted cream or the orange zest flavoured Crème Fraiche.

RED WINE PEARS

Steps:

• Using a sharp vegetable peeler, peel the pears top to bottom, leaving them whole, with stems attached and the core intact.
• Put the pears in a large, wide nonreactive pot (enameled or stainless steel) in one layer. Add the wine, sugar and spices. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer, and cook for about 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted encounters no resistance. Remove from the heat and transfer the pears to a deep container, leaving the liquid in the pot.
• Heat the poaching liquid over high and boil down until it is reduced by half. (You should have about 2 1/2 cups syrup.) Pour syrup over pears, and refrigerate overnight if possible.
• To serve, put each pear in a soup plate and spoon over a little of the red wine syrup. Add a dollop of crème fraîche or a scoop of ice cream, and finish with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds.