Pears in Red Wine with Vanilla Ice Cream is a decadent and elegant dessert that originates from France. This recipe involves poaching pears in red wine and spices, creating a sweet and fragrant flavor. The dish is typically served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which adds a creamy and cool contrast to the warm and spiced pears. While this dessert may be high in sugar and calories, pears are a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C, and red wine contains antioxidants. This dish is popular in the French region of Bordeaux, where red wine is a beloved ingredient in both cooking and drinking. With its rich flavors and elegant presentation, Pears in Red Wine with Vanilla Ice Cream is a sophisticated and indulgent treat.
Although there are said to be over 5,000 varieties of European pear and 1,000 American ones, almost all are descended from the common pear.
Peel the lemon rind with a potato peeler and cut into thin strips. Peel the pears and cut in half lengthways. Remove the cores from the pears.
Arrange pears in a single layer in a large pan. Pour in 300ml/10fl oz. water .Add lemon rind. wine, sugar, cinnamon and redcurrant jelly. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer pears for 25 minutes, or until tender.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pears to 4 bowls. Increase heat. Cook remaining liquid in pan for 8 minutes, or until syrupy. Pour over pears and allow to cool. Serve with ice cream.
Use a teaspoon to carefully scoop out the pear cores at the end of step 1. It is important to simmer the pears over a low heat in step 2, or they will fall apart.
Replace the pears with nectarines or peaches. Peel, halve and remove stones, then cook for 15-20 minutes in step 2.
Serve this elegant dessert after a main course of pan-fried pork chops, sautéed potatoes and steamed mange tout.
For the best results, choose firm pears for this dish . Select large varieties, such as Anjou, Comics, or Dumont pears.
