Pears Poached In Spiced Red Wine

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 6 firm-ripe large pears, such as anjou or seckel pears, peeled, stems left intact
• 1 (750 ml) bottle fruity red wine, such as a california burgundy
• 1 lemon, peeled, pith removed, sliced
• 4 whole cloves
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cinnamon sticks (each 2 inches)
• 1 piece lemon zest (1 inch)
• 6 fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Recipe

• 1 place the pears and the wine in a nonreactive medium-size saucepan. be sure the wine completely covers the pears. stud 4 of the lemon slices with the cloves and add them with all the other ingredients (except the mint) to the pears. bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, until the pears are soft but not mushy, 25 to 35 minutes.
• 2 transfer the pears to a serving bowl. reduce the poaching liquid over high heat by one-third to concentrate the flavors. this may take up to 15 minutes. pour over the pears—cinammon sticks and all—and let cool.
• 3 let the pears sit for a few hours, or, ever better, overnight, so they can fully absorb the flavors in the wine. they will turn a beautiful vermillion color.