Poached Pears with Red Wine and Star Anise
- Total Time
- 1:04
- Prep
- 0:10
- Cook
- 0:50
- Serves
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
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water2 cup(s), boiling
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tea bag3 item(s), Red Zinger or Raspberry Zinger
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red wine16 fl oz, (2 cups), dry
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sugar½ cup(s)
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orange zest3 strip(s), (3-inch), removed with vegetable peeler
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cardamom pods2 item(s)
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star anise1 item(s)
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raw Bosc pear(s)4 item(s), (1/2-pound each), firm-ripe, peeled, halved, and cored
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plain fat free Greek yogurt½ cup(s)
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shelled pistachio nuts2 Tbsp, coarsely chopped
- Pour boiling water into glass measuring cup or bowl; add tea bags and let steep 4 minutes. Remove tea bags and discard; pour tea into large saucepan. Add wine, sugar, orange zest, cardamom pods, and star anise; bring to boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
- Reduce heat to simmer and add pears; place sheet of wax paper on top of pears to keep them submerged. Cook, covered, until pears are just tender when pierced with small knife, 30–35 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; uncover and let pears cool in wine mixture.
- When pears are cool, with slotted spoon, transfer to large bowl; set aside.
- Bring wine mixture to boil over high heat. Boil until reduced to about 2⁄3 cup, 10–15 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and let syrup cool to room temperature. Discard orange zest, cardamom, and star anise.
- To serve, place 1 pear half, cut side up, in each of 8 serving dishes or dessert plates. Spoon syrup evenly over pears. Spoon yogurt evenly on top of or alongside pears and sprinkle with pistachios.
- Per serving: 1 pear half, about 1 1/2 tablespoons syrup, 1 tablespoon yogurt, and scant 1 teaspoon pistachios