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Poached Pears in Red or White Wine (Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe)

Poached pears in wine is one of the most elegant and delicious desserts you can serve. No one needs to know how easy they are to make!

poached pears in wine

My mother is responsible for this post. 

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She’s been making these pears for years. She never measures anything, just throws the pears, wine and sugar in a pan and cooks them until they have turned into one of the most delectable and simple desserts you can make.

You can definitely dress them up when serving poached pears in wine with a little sprig of mint and some dots of red jelly (we used pomegranate.) Yes, that’s caramelized wine sauce in the photos–be still my heart!

poached pears in wine

Of course, we measured the wine and sugar when I took photos, but honestly, you don’t have to stress too much about measuring and weighing in this recipe.

If you have a plethora of pears, try this moist and easy to make pear cake!

piece of pear cake on a fork

How to Poach Pears

Poaching pears is easy: it’s basically cooking the pears in a liquid. You can easily cut the recipe in half and just make two pears, instead of four, or increase the amount if you have a larger pan. Don’t want to use white wine? Use red wine; any type of wine will work as long as it’s not too sweet or sparkling.

Dietary  and Nutrition Facts of Poached Pears

This poached pears in wine recipe is naturally gluten free, nut free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian and vegan! Pears are an great source of fiber and have vitamin C for only 100 calories per serving. They’re also sodium free, fat free, and cholesterol free. –USA Pears

You may also enjoy this super easy and romantic dessert: individual apple galettes.

Individual Apple galette recipe

We love simple flavors and if your pears are good, the caramelized wine sauce is absolutely perfect on its own, however, you can also add your favorite spice, or vanilla, for example. Oh, and I must add, this is a real 3 ingredient recipe unlike others you’ll see where 3 ingredients (cake mix, jello pudding and cool whip) actually means 41 ingredients!

Ready to make this lovely dessert? It’s not a coincidence that I’m posting this the day before Valentine’s Day, hint, hint!

Poached Pears in Wine

recipe by Lidia Conte      serves 8

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

  • pears
  • wine
  • sugar

Special equipment: sauté pan with lid.

Peel, halve (lengthwise) and core four pears and place cut side down in sauté pan.

peeled pears in pan

Pour wine into pan with the pears.

making poached pears in wine

Next, add the sugar.

adding sugar to pears in pan

Put burner on to medium high heat and bring to a simmer, then add the lid.

pears in pan with lid on

Cook for a few minutes until the pears are still firm, but cooked (poke with a skewer to test them.) Turn them over and cook for one more minute. I can’t give you an exact time as it will differ according to the type of pear you use and how ripe they are. However, it’s not difficult to check when they’re ready, just don’t overcook them.

cooking pears in pan

Take the pan off the heat and remove the pears from the liquid in the pan with a large spoon (slotted is best) and set aside.

removing a pear from a pan

Put the pan back onto the burner and bring to a strong simmer over medium high heat. Cook until a syrup forms, then remove from heat immediately after consistency is reached.

cooking wine down into syrup

Place pear halves (one or two) on serving plates and drizzle with the caramelized wine syrup.

poached pears in wine

Decorate as desired, or not at all, and serve right away.

poached pears in wine

 

poached pear

Poached Pears in Wine (Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe)

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Not just any old poached pears as these form a caramelized wine syrup to be served with the pears.

Ingredients

  • 4 firm, organic pears
  • 295 ml (1 1/4 cups) white or red wine, dry
  • 140 g (3/4 cup) sugar

Instructions

    1. Peel, halve (lengthwise) and core four pears and place cut side down in sauté pan.
    2. Pour wine into pan with the pears. Next, add the sugar.
    3. Put burner on to medium high heat and bring to a simmer, then add the lid.
    4. Cook for a few minutes until the pears are still firm, but cooked (poke with a skewer to test them.) Turn them over and cook for one more minute.
    5. Take the pan off the heat and remove the pears from the liquid in the pan with a large spoon (slotted is best) and set aside.
    6. Put the pan back onto the burner and bring to a strong simmer over medium high heat. Cook until a syrup forms, then remove from heat immediately after consistency is reached.
    7. Place pear halves (one or two) on serving plates and drizzle with the caramelized wine syrup. Decorate as desired, or not at all, and serve right away.

Notes

  • Ingredient measurement isn't critical in this recipe.
  • I used Bosc pears, but any firm pear will do.
  • Special equipment needed: sauté pan with lid.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1/2 pear
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 4654Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 218mgCarbohydrates: 153gFiber: 2gSugar: 41gProtein: 4g

Nutrition information is only estimated.

Did you make this recipe?

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Love poached pears? Try these recipes, too~

 

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17 Comments

    1. Hi Marie, not really. My mother and I just use whatever we have on hand or that is already open. Just not a sparkling, sweet wine. Let me know what you think if you try it!

  1. I adore poached pears and these are beautiful. Proof indeed that the most delicious are the simplest with wonderful ingredients. Another lovely recipe, Christina – and Lidia!

  2. Good morning Christina,
    Just adore pears, and this looks yummy. This may have to be on my ‘to do’ list. :-)
    In the instructions, you say
    “Peel, quarter (lengthwise) and core four pears and place cut side down in sauté pan.”
    Surely they are halved, not quartered?
    Thank you Christina, for your delicious recipes.
    Val (UK)