Red Wine Poached Pears

These are a little time consuming but very much worth the effort. Not only do they look elegant, but they taste superb served with ice-cream with chopped hazelnuts sprinkled over it.

Ingredients

400ml red wine

150g granulated sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

4 pears

Method

• Combine all the ingredients except for the pears into a saucepan that will fit four pears and place on a hot hob. Stir over the heat until the sugar dissolves, then bring to the boil and reduce to a steady simmer.

• In the meantime core the pears from the bottom, scooping out the core and seeds without disturbing the top and stem. Then peel the pears carefully.

• Add the pears to the simmering wine syrup and allow them to simmer untouched for 12–14 minutes, then turn them over and simmer for a further 8–10 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork. Carefully remove them from the saucepan and allow to cool.

• Turn up the heat and reduce the wine syrup by half. Pour this over the pears when serving.