Poached pears is my go-to recipe, when I’m looking for a quick, tasty and light dessert (click HERE for the recipe). Pears have an incredible way of absorbing flavors while cooking, yet keep their shape, and can be easily served on their own, or with few additions, creating an effortless and elegant dessert.
In the following recipe, I was looking for a thicker sauce, and decided on butterscotch sauce – a combination of butter of brown sugar. To get the nutty flavor of brown butter added into the sauce, and to deepen the flavors and color, I started by frying the pears in the butter. I then added brown sugar, hard pear cider, cinnamon stick, vanilla and fresh ginger, and poached the pears in it, until they softened. The last step was to reduce the syrup into a thick caramel-buttery-spiced sauce. Served on their own, or with a scoop of ice cream, the pears make a perfect last minute dessert. Try it and enjoy.
Makes: 3-6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: about 30 minutes
Ingredients:
3 ripe but firm pears (I used Red Anjous)
1 stick cinnamon
½ stick (55 grams) butter, soft
A knob of ginger, about 0.5 inch (1.25 cm), peeled and sliced
½ cup dark brown sugar
Dash salt
1 cup hard pear cider (or hard apple cider)
1 tsp vanilla extract
For serving (optional):
Vanilla ice cream
1. Peel the pears, cut in half lengthwise, and core them.
2. Melt the butter in a medium wide pot, over medium-high heat. Add the pears, core side down, and cinnamon stick, and fry for 1-2 minutes. Flip and fry for 1 minute. Flip again, add the sugar, ginger, salt, cider and vanilla. Bring to the boil, cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 15 minutes.
3. Uncover the pot, flip the pears over, increase the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the pears over again, core side down, and increase the heat to high. Bring to the boil and cook for about 5 more minutes, until the sauce reduces and thickens.
4. Transfer the pears to a container, strain the sauce over them, and discard the cinnamon and ginger. Serve warm, with or without ice cream on the side.
I normally don’t like pears but I think I would love this! I will have to give it a try soon!
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Thank you, I’m glad to hear! Pears cooked this way have a totally different texture than fresh ones. I hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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I love cooked pears, and this sauce sounds perfect for them!
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Thank you Irene, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The pears came out so tasty! This is definitely a keeper. 🙂
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😋
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The poached pears look delightful, and would be wonderful with ice cream.
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They do Indeed. It’s a perfect combination! 🙂
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Yes, poached pears in red wine is my go-to also on the rare occasions I make dessert. Bur his looks and sounds utterly delightful without being too sinful. The cider and ginger should make a rather unctuous sauce . . . thanks . . .
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Thank you Eha, I’m glad you liked the recipe. It is indeed a relatively guilt-free type of dessert. I also love the versions made with red wine. So good! 🙂
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Wow, butterscotch. It’s funny that I haven’t thought of this pairing before, no pun (pear) intended. I’ll give this a try sometime. Thanks!
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Thank you Bob, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The pears indeed paired well with the sauce. I was debating about adding heavy cream to it, but then decided it is rich enough without it. Hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
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I never had pears before. But this recipe looks interesting.
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Thank you Madhumanti, I’m glad you liked the dish. It was very tasty! 🙂
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That looks like comfort food to me, Ronit. Just right for these interesting times.
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Thank you Mary, I’m glad you liked the dish. The idea was to mix comfort food with quick preparation and few ingredients. Mission accomplished! 🙂
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👌
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Looks luscious and a perfect dessert – I would go with a scoop of French Vanilla ice cream like Sheryl 🙂
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Thank you Judi, I’m glad you liked the dish. The pears were great on their own, but I’m with you both about serving them with vanilla ice cream (I used one that also had a swirl of salted caramel in it..). So good! 🙂
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Ooh, butterscotch. 😋❣️
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Oh yes! 🙂
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Yumm! My daughter will like this one. Thanks for sharing 🥰
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Thank you Dawn, I’m glad you liked the recipe It’s my pleasure to share. Hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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Darn…those look delicious! In every step 😋
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What an absolutely gorgeous dessert! Looks delicious!
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Thank you Angela, I’m glad you liked the dish. It was so tasty. Just perfect to uplift the spirit on this gloomy time! 🙂
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Very interesting with cinnamon and ginger!
I know a similar preparation just with sugar (caramelize!) and butter, after some heavy cream – called «poires à la savoyarde».
I will give your version a try!
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Thank you Felix, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The combination of butter and brown sugar is so tasty, and worked well with the pears and spices. I was considering adding heavy cream, but then decided it’s rich enough as is.
Poires à la savoyarde is different, as it is baked gratin-style. It’s also very tasty. Maybe I’ll make it next time! 🙂
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I love poached pears but yours sound exceptionally good with the butterscotch sauce. I was so spoiled when we had the orchard and I had a whole row of pear trees. Good ones are not as prevalent here in Florida.
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Thank you Karen, I’m glad you liked the dish. It turned out so tasty.
You’re so right, no store bought ones can be compared to freshly picked pears…
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Looks absolutely delish!
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Thank you Julie. I’m glad you liked the dish. It was very tasty! 🙂
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Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
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Looks so tempting , well done!
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Thank you Nisha! 🙂
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What a wonderful idea.
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Thank you Paul! 🙂
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All very cute and pretty and good.
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Thank you Luis, I’m glad you liked the recipe. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Recipe Goals.
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