A fabulously light dessert for your dinner party. These delicately poached pears have a melt in the mouth texture and fragrant flavour your guests will love!
Ingredients
- 1 litre of water
- 300g caster sugar
- 4 conference pears
- 10 cardamon pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-star anise
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- pinch of saffron (optional)
- 1 litre of water
- 300g caster sugar
- 4 conference pears
- 10 cardamon pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-star anise
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- pinch of saffron (optional)
Bring your water to a boil in a deep saucepan and then drop it to low heat so it is barely simmering – poaching temperature. Add your sugar and stir to dissolve.
Peel your pears and drop them into the water. Add the cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, vanilla and saffron.
Cover and cook gently for 2 hours, or until your pears are soft (easily pierced with a knife). Remove from the poaching liquor and turn up the heat so the mixture reduces into a pouring syrup. Add your pears back to the pan to warm through.
Serve with ice cream and a spoonful of syrup.