Red Wine Poached Pears

I'll be cooking this dish today on Late Lunch Live on TV3!!!

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.

Serves 4

400ml red wine

5 Tablespoons honey

2 tablespoon lemon juice

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

4 pears

Method

Combine all the ingredients except for the pears into a suitable sized saucepan that 4 pears will fit into and place on a hot hob. Stir over the heat until the honey dissolves then bring to the boil and reduce to a steady simmer.

In the meantime core the pears from the bottom and scoop out the core and seeds without disturbing the top and stem, now carefully peel the pears with a speedy peeler.

Add the pears to the simmering wine syrup and allow them to simmer untouched for 12-14 mins, then turn them over and simmer for a further 8-10 mins 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 and use this to pour over the pears when serving.