Poached Pears with Port Syrup
Kitchen Tested 
- Yield 4 servings
- Prep 15 mins
- Cook 35 mins
Port and spices infuse pears with a beautiful pink color and a warm sweet flavor.
Mark Boughton/styling: Teresa Blackburn
Ingredients
- 4 large ripe pears, peeled
- 2 1/2 cups red port
- 1/2 cup sugar
- -- Cinnamon sticks
- 2 -- star anise
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, place pears in one layer. Pour port, sugar, cinnamon, star anise and vanilla over pears, then add enough cold water to just cover them. Bring to a simmer and lower heat to medium and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Transfer pears to a bowl. Once they have cooled, cut in half and slice each half into thirds. Continue to boil port mixture until it reduces to 1 1/3 cups, about 20 minutes. Discard cinnamon sticks and star anise. To serve place 1/4 cup ricotta in a bowl, top with sliced pears and drizzle with syrup.
Recipe by Chef Jon Ashton.
