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Vanilla Bourbon Poached Pears

Two perfectly cooked poached pears glistening with a rich, amber syrup on a white plate.
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Make elegant, tender poached pears infused with vanilla and bourbon. This simple recipe yields a flavorful syrup perfect for drizzling over the fruit.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 firm pears (Bosc or Anjou recommended)
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 1 lemon, halved

Instructions

  1. Peel the pears, leaving the stems intact. Use a melon baller or small spoon to carefully remove the core from the bottom of each pear.
  2. In a saucepan large enough to hold the pears standing upright, combine the water, sugar, vanilla bean seeds and pod, and bourbon. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
  3. Gently place the prepared pears into the simmering liquid. Add the lemon halves to the pot to help maintain the pear color.
  4. Reduce the heat to low so the liquid maintains a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil. Cover the pot partially with a circle of parchment paper (a cartouche) to keep the pears submerged.
  5. Poach for 20 to 35 minutes, depending on the ripeness and size of your pears. Check for doneness by inserting a thin skewer into the thickest part; it should meet little resistance.
  6. Remove the pears carefully and set them aside.
  7. Increase the heat and boil the remaining poaching liquid rapidly for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the syrup reduces and thickens slightly. Discard the vanilla pod and lemon.
  8. Pour the reduced syrup over the cooled pears. Serve warm or chilled.

Notes

  • For a richer color, substitute 1 cup of water with 1 cup of dry white wine or apple juice.
  • Serve these poached pears with a dollop of mascarpone cheese or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
  • You can make this dessert up to three days ahead; store the pears submerged in the syrup in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastytribune.com/poached-pears-vanilla-bourbon-recipe/