There's something about a perfect poached pear that just makes your taste buds tingle. Whether you enjoy it on its own or as part of a dessert, poaching pears is a delicious way to prepare them. In this post, we'll guide you through the process of poaching pears perfectly each and every time. So whether you're looking for a simple dessert or an elegant treat, poaching pears is the perfect way to go!
For an elegant, light and impressive-looking dessert, try this recipe for perfect poached pear. Since you can poach pears at any stage of ripeness, this is a great recipe for every season! Just make sure that you poach the pear for a few extra minutes if it is unripe. For a more decadent treat, try reducing the cooking liquid to a syrup and spooning it over the pear just before serving
Perfect Poached Pear
Recipe courtesy of The Natural Gourmet
Makes: 2 servings
Time: About 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 to 4 whole cloves
- 1 pear (bosc works well)
- 2 cups apple juice
Directions
- 1. Pour the apple juice into a small saucepan. Add in the cloves and cinnamon stick. Get the cooking liquid up to a simmer.
- 2. Peel the pear (removing all brown spots!), leaving the stem on. Split the pear lengthwise, making sure one side gets the stem. Remove the seed core with a melon baller or a spoon, but a melon baller works much better!
- 3. Lower the pear halves, bottom side down, into the cooking liquid and adjust the heat so that it simmers gently. Cover.
- 4. Cook, turning the pears every 3 minutes or so, until soft and slightly tender, typically 10 to 15 minutes, depending upon how ripe the pear is.
- 5. Turn of the heat and remove the pear halves from the liquid.
- 6. Chill the poached pears in the fridge until ready to serve. Note: They will keep in the fridge for a couple of days, so you can make this dessert ahead of time!
- 7. For the sauce, reduce the poaching liquid to a syrup and then spoon it over the poached peers before serving. Pictured below.
- 8. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and mint leaf, and enjoy with a fruit sorbet or vanilla ice cream!
Keep scrolling down to know how to make this dessert the traditional way. Well, if you want a flawless perfect poached pear, use the same method we detailed above. But don’t be surprised by any of its variations and tweaks that follow. If you are looking for an easy recipe for your guests, why not try one of these?
Pair your poached pear with some black currants and vanilla ice cream or yogurt to create a perfect dessert everyone will love!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do poached pears go brown?
Poached pears can go brown for a few reasons. The most common reason is that the water used to poaching them isn't hot enough, which leads to oxidation and discoloration. Browning may also be caused by bacteria or fungi, as well as insufficient storage conditions (such as cold temperatures). If you're noticing your poached pears going brown quickly, it's best to cook them in fresh rather than warm water in order to prevent this from happening.
Can you reheat poached pears?
Poached pears can go brown due to a number of reasons, but the most common one is that they are not cooked long enough. The poach should take about 15-20 minutes, and if it takes longer than that, the fruit will start to turn brown due to the release of natural pigments. Another reason for poached pears turning color is exposure to air or light; if you don't cover them tightly while poaching, then they may start to spoil.
Do you core pears before poaching?
Core pears can be poached in the same way as any other fruit, but it is important to ensure that they are properly coreed. To do this, simply use a sharp knife to make an incision around the center of the pear and then twist until the flesh separates from the peel. Once you have removed the skin andcore, place them into a poaching or sauté pan with just enough water or wine to cover them. Cook over medium-high heat until tender and slightly charred on both sides.
If you wish to serve your pears cold instead of warm, simply let them cool completely before transferring them to an ice cream container for later enjoyment!
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