GLUTEN-FREE RED WINE POACHED PEARS
Here’s a delicious and very easy dessert. No skill is required in the making and the ruby red presentation is fabulous. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream or top with our Hemp Seed and Coconut Crumble and pop in the oven for a slightly more adult version of a family favourite.
Rosie
RED WINE POACHED PEARS
Serves 6
750 ml red wine (we used Tempranillo)
130 gm caster sugar (or to taste)
2 fresh bay leaves
3 large pears (we used Packham)
Combine the red wine, sugar and bay leaves in a heat proof pan large enough to accommodate the pear halves in one layer.
Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Peel, halve and core the pears and place, cut side down in the liquid in the pan.
Simmer, covered, for 10-15 minutes before turning the pears over. Simmer for a further 10-15 minutes, covered, before turning over again. Test to see if the pears are cooked by inserting a fine skewer into the thickest part of a pear. It should not give any resistance.
Depending on ripeness, some of the pears may be ready before others, if this is the case, remove the cooked pears.
If the pears are not ready, simmer, covered, until cooked, basting the tops with the liquid from time to time. Depending on the ripeness of your pears, this could take up to around 45 minutes.
When the pears are cooked, check that the red wine has thickened to a syrup consistency. If not, increase the heat and simmer, uncovered until the liquid is syrupy.
If you have removed any pears, return them to the pan and allow to cool in the syrup.
Serve at room temperature.
Baste the pears with the syrup, place a half on each serving plate, surrounded by extra syrup and serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice-cream.
TIP:
Serving size really depends on the size of the pears. Smaller pears may require 2 halves per serve.
These pears are really delicious served as a crumble. Simply top with our gluten-free Hemp Seed and Coconut Crumble mixture, pop into a pre-heated 180°C oven for 15-20 minutes or until the crumble is golden brown and the pears heated through. Serve warm or at room temperature.
