This week’s recipe for Cook the Book Fridays comes from Dorie Greenspan’s cookbook, Everyday Dorie.
White Wine-Poached Pears could not be a more simple recipe – and made me wonder why I don’t make this more often! And reminded me of a funny story involving poached pears which is maybe the reason why I don’t 😉
When I first moved to Canada 22 years ago, Neil and I were part of a dinner club where we would take turns hosting 2-3 other couples every couple of months (each couple would bring one course). The first dinner I attended, we were charged with bringing dessert and I wanted to impress everyone so I made poached pears which, for me, felt like the height of sophistication! My mum used to make poached pears for “fancy” dinner parties in the 80s and I loved their simplicity and elegance. What better type of dessert to bring to impress people? Well… actually, no… people looked at the pears bobbing around in their red wine poaching liquid like they had no idea what they were or why we would have brought them LOL! They tasted delicious though so there was that… And you know what? Since then, I can count on one hand the number of times I have made them 😀
So, these pears of Dorie’s, they’re poached in white wine, sugar and honey (and actually they are more steamed as the amount of liquid certainly does not cover the pears as I’m used to when poaching pears…). I used a fairly strong honey which I found overpowered any other flavours but which made for delightfully caramelised syrup.
Would I make these again? Maybe not this version but it’s reminded me how delightful poached fruit can be 🙂
Get the recipe for Dorie Greenspan’s White-Wine Poached Pears on p 299 of Everyday Dorie or here.
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Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of “Everyday Dorie” for review purposes. I was not asked to write about the book, nor am I being compensated for doing so. All opinions 100% my own.
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They are delicious, no question but you don’t see them often.
the 80s are cool again, and we should bring back poached pears!
I like your story. Poached pears will always have a special place in my kitchen.
I still think it’s an elegant dessert. (And remember that dinner well!) 😉
Oh I just loved your story…thanks for sharing!! “The height of sophistication”…I can just imagine the scene!!
I did make these for a dinner party and serving them was the tricky part. The syrup was delicious and I used it as a syrup for ice cream!