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Poached pears

This light and spicy dessert, delicately flavoured with orange and star anise, is an ideal way to use up any pears from your garden.

15 minutes prep. time
20–30 minutes cooking time
Serves 6
Cakes, bakes & desserts, Vegetarian

Classic poached pears dessert, with orange and star anise — Classic poached pears dessert, with orange and star anise | © National Trust

6 pears
200ml vegan white wine
50g maple syrup
6 star anise
¼ tsp ground cloves
2 oranges
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Finishing it off

For extra wow factor, top with a scoop of ice cream, drizzle of cream or melted dark chocolate.

Step 1

Place the white wine, star anise, maple syrup, cloves and cinnamon into a pan. Cut fine strips of orange peel, squeeze the orange, then add the juice, peel and squeezed fruit to the pan.

Step 2

Peel the pears, cutting a little off the bottom of each pear.

Step 3

Stand the pears in the pan with the wine mix, and add sufficient water to cover them two-thirds of the way up. Bring to the boil then immediately reduce to a simmer. Cover the pan and poach for around 20 minutes.

Step 4

Test the pears by pushing a knife into the widest part, it should slide in easily. Remove the pears from the poaching liquor, and set aside.

Step 5

Boil the liquid until it has reduced by 50% and thickened slightly. Add sugar if needed. Strain into a bowl, reserving the peel and star anise.

Step 6

Place a pear in the centre of a bowl, ladle over some of the poaching liquor, serve with a star anise and a few strands of the orange peel.

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