RED WINE POACHED PEARS
Ingredients
- 750ml/1 pint 7fl oz red wine
- 250g/9oz caster sugar
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 vanilla pod
- split
- 2 cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 6 firm pears
- peeled
- but stalk on
- 75g/2½oz butter
- 75g/2½oz sugar
- 75ml/2½fl oz double cream
- 75g/2½oz cocoa powder
- 75ml/2½fl oz water
- 75g/2½oz dark chocolate
- chopped
- crème fraÃche
- cinnamon powder
- to dust
Directions
- Place the wine
- sugar and the herbs and spices into a pan over a medium heat and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer
- then add the pears and poach for 20-30 minutes
- or until softened
- but still firm. (Turn the pears frequently to keep them covered with the wine.)
- Remove the pears and set aside. Bring the poaching liquid back up to the boil and cook until the liquid is reduced to a syrup.
- For the chocolate sauce
- place the butter
- sugar
- cream
- cocoa powder
- water and chocolate into a pan over a low heat and stir until melted and combined. Continue to heat the sauce for 4-5 minutes
- until thick and glossy.
- To serve
- place a pear into the centre of each dish of six dishes and pour the chocolate sauce around. Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche. Dust with cinnamon powder.

