Ingredients
- 6 small firm pears peeled, but kept whole with stalk intact
- 500 ml full bodied red wine
- 175g sugar
- 2 tbls. Redcurrant jelly
- 12 black peppercorns
- 6 All spice berries
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 star anise
- 1 strip orange peel
Introduction
Note: Any poaching pear juice leftover can be reused, used to enhance a game casserole or simply drunk chilled over ice. The pears can be kept in the syrup for up to 1 month in a sterilised jar chilled.Method
- Place all the ingredients except the pears into a deep non-corrosive pan large enough to fit the pears, bring to the boil and reduce a little.
- Gently poach the pears, fully immersed in the wine for 30 mins, covered with a circle of parchment paper.
- The cooking time will vary depending on the ripeness of the pears - they should be tender all the way through when pierced with a cocktail stick.
TO SERVE:
- Perfect to pair with Wild Venison and game birds, also great cold with pate and terrines.