If you have some time on your hands or are looking to do something thoughtful for a friend, why not make a batch of these delicious spiced pears. Lotte Duncan, chef and presenter tells us they are wonderful as a gift or to store in your cupboard for when you fancy a treat!
SERVES 6
INGREDIENTS
- 6 medium-sized semi-ripe pears, peeled, left whole with stalks and the bottom bit of core removed.
- 450g frozen mixed berries
- 570ml red wine
- 1 star anise
- 1 small bay leaf
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 6 whole cloves
- 1 whole lump of preserved stem ginger, sliced
- 350g caster sugar
CREATING YOUR MASTERPIECE
- Place the pears in the bottom of a large saucepan.
- Add the berries, ¾ of the red wine, the star anise, bay leaf, cinnamon stick and cloves.
- Place the lid on and bring up to the boil and simmer until tender – not too much otherwise the pears will fall apart.
- Remove the pears and gently place into a sterilised Kilner jar.
- Remove the star anise, bay leaf and cinnamon stick and add to the pears in the jar.
Now add 3 more new whole cloves (ignore the old ones) and the sliced ginger to the jar too.
Push the liquid and fruit through a sieve, making sure you get as much juice out of the fruit as possible.
- Replace the sieved fruit and juice into the saucepan, add the rest of the wine and the sugar and boil until syrupy.
- Pour this over the pears, seal the jar and label. Although you can eat it straight away too!
These pears are delicious with cheese and wonderful over ice cream.
