Hot Spiced Pears
These Hot Spiced Pears are the perfect simplistic dessert either served solo or accompanied with vegan ice cream!
This recipe makes 2 servings
Equipment: oven, peeler, ovenproof dish, small saucepan, wooden spoon, slotted spoon
Prep Time: 1hour 10minutes
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 large Conference pears (each about 225g/8oz whole/unprepared weight)
- 150ml (1/2 pint) red wine (choose a vegetarian/vegan white wine if cooking for vegetarians/vegans)
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice
- 35g (1 1/4oz) light soft brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
- 2 star anise
- Finely pared orange zest, to decorate (optional)
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 180ºC/fan 160ºC/gas mark 4. Carefully peel pears, leaving stalks intact and fruit whole. Place in an ovenproof dish, laying them on their sides.
Combine red wine, orange juice and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat gently, stirring until sugar has dissolved; bring to the boil. Tuck whole spices around pears; pour hot wine mixture over pears and turn them over a couple of times. Cover dish; bake for 45-60 minutes or until pears are softened, turning pears over once or twice during cooking.
Carefully lift pears out using a slotted spoon; place upright on serving dishes. Pour liquid back into the saucepan (discarding spices); bring to the boil and boil rapidly for about 5 minutes or until it is reduced and thickened slightly. Spoon liquid over pears, dividing evenly; decorate with orange zest, if desired.
Serve hot or warm, or cool then chill before serving.