Pomegranate and Red Wine Poached Pears

Two of autumn’s favorite fruits are paired to make these stunning and elegant pomegranate and red wine poached pears dessert. Find more of my pomegranate recipes.

As the year is winding down, life is getting hectic. Sometimes, we have to stop and enjoy the holidays and not get lost in the holiday shopping or cooking. I like to spend the end of the year taking stock of what I have, as most people like to do.

Holiday parties are happening every weekend and trying to do it all during the holidays can totally stress you out. So I am always on the hunt for easy recipes when you are entertaining during the holidays.

And these pomegranate and red wine poached pears make a stunning dessert. Pears and pomegranates are available in the fall thru early winter which makes them perfect for holiday desserts.

Poached pears are an elegant dessert that are very simple to make. Because they sit in the poaching liquid overnight, they are made the day before you are serving them. Like I said, a stress free dessert!

Ingredients you need

• Red Wine: You can choose your favorite red wine or something more on the fruity side. Remember the flavor of the wine will be highlighted on this dish so choose something you like.
• Pomegranate Juice: You can use freshly squeezed or store bought pomegranate juice. If you want a non-alcoholic dessert, use only pomegranate juice.
• Star of Anise: This gives a subtle licorice flavor. If you do not have star of anise, you can also drop in a cinnamon stick or some cardamom pods
• Pears: Choose firm but ripe Bosc or Bartlett pears.
• Granulated sugar: You can also use honey or brown sugar, though the amounts will vary.
• Pomegranate arils: I like to garnish the pears with some fresh pomegranate arils.

Step-by-step directions

1. Simmer mixture. Heat red wine, pomegranate juice, sugar and star of anise in saucepan and stir until sugar is dissolved.
2. Prepare pears. Keeping the stem intact, cut a slice from the bottom of each pear so it can stand upright. Peel the pears.
3. Add pears. Gently add pears to the wine mixture and until pears are cooked but still firm. Rotate pears while it is simmering.
4. Cool. Remove from heat and cover pot, leaving the fruit to cool completely in the poaching liquid.
5. Chill. Set pears to sit upright in the pot. Cover and chill in refrigerator up to 24 hours, periodically spooning the poaching liquid over the pears.
6. Create syrup. Remove pears from liquid and allow to come to room temperature. Boil the poaching liquid until it is reduced to a syrup. Let syrup cool to room temperature.
7. Serve. Place pears into serving dishes, spoon syrup over them and garnish with pomegranate arils.

Expert tips and recipe FAQS

The beauty of these pomegranate poached pears, is that they are elegant on their own. I like to serve them with the pomegranate syrup and some pomegranate arils sprinkled over it.

You can also serve the poached pears with vanilla ice cream or a dollap of whipped cream. You can serve poached pears warm, room temperature or even cold.

Pomegranate and Red Wine Poached Pears

Laura Bashar | Family Spice

Two of autumn's favorite fruits are paired to make these stunning and elegant pomegranate and red wine poached pears dessert.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Pies, Tarts and Other Desserts

Cuisine French

Servings 4

Calories 310 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 ½ cup red wine
• 1 ½ cup pomegranate juice
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 star of anise
• 4 firm but ripe Bosc or Bartlett pear
• ⅓ cup pomegranate arils

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Instructions

 

• In a saucepan large enough to hold your pears bring to boil, add red wine, pomegranate juice, sugar and star of anise
• Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Keeping stem intact, cut a slice from the bottom so pears can stand upright. Gently and carefully peel pears.
• Reduce sauce heat to simmer and gently add the peeled pears.
• Simmer for 30-40 minutes, turning every 5 minutes for even color, until pears are cooked but still firm.
• Remove the saucepan from heat and cover. Leave the fruit to cool completely in the poaching liquid.
• Once cool, gently bring pears upright, cover saucepan and chill in refrigerator at least 3 hours or up to 24 hours, periodically spooning the poaching liquid over the pears.
• Gently remove pears from liquid and allow to come to room temperature.
• In the meantime, boil the poaching liquid until it is reduced about 15 minutes over medium-high flame. You want a thick and syrupy liquid.
• Remove syrup from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Spoon syrup over pears and garnish with pomegranate arils.

Notes

Serving Suggestions: Serve alone or with some mascarpone cheese, whipped cream or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

TO STORE: Store the poached pears with the pomegranate wine syrup in a covered container in the refrigerator.The poached pears will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. If you want to serve them warm, gently reheat the pears in the poaching liquid. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1pearCalories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 13mgFiber: 2gSugar: 56g

Keyword poached pears, pomegranate poached pears, red wine poached pears, wine poached pears

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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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