Desserts
Poached Pears with Spices (Vegan & Gluten Free)
This poached pear dessert is simple, elegant and incredibly tasty. The pears are gently simmered in a syrup flavored with cinnamon, star anise and orange zest, making them tender and full of flavor. It is a light and comforting dessert, perfect to end a meal or for a special occasion.
Total time: ⏱ 30 min🍽 4 servingsDifficulty: EasyPreparation time: Not specifiedCooking time: Not specified
Nutritional values have not been calculated for this recipe.
A poached pear served on a plate with its spicy syrup, a cinnamon stick and an anise star.
Ingredients
- 4 firm but ripe pears (Bosc or Anjou type), peeled, leaving the stems
- 4 cups of water (or apple juice/white wine for more flavor)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or coconut sugar
- 2 sticks of cinnamon
- 2 anise stars
- 1 orange zest (about 5 cm long)
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Preparation steps
- In a saucepan large enough to hold the pears upright, combine the water, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, star anise, orange zest and vanilla extract.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
- Carefully place the pears peeled in syrup. Make sure they are mostly submerged. If necessary, place a small piece of parchment paper on top to keep them submerged.
- Leave to poach for 20-25 minutes, or until the pears are tender (a knife should be able to penetrate them easily). Turn the pears occasionally for even cooking.
- Once the pears are cooked, carefully remove them from the syrup and set them aside.
- Raise the heat and let the syrup reduce for 10-15 minutes, until it thickens slightly.
- Serve the pears hot or cold, drizzled with the reduced syrup.
Chef’s tip
For an even more delicious dessert, serve the poached pears with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or a spoon of plant-based yogurt. The hot-cold contrast is delicious. You can store the pears in their syrup in the refrigerator for several days.
