Step 1
Using the medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan that will be used for poaching the pears as a guide, cut a round of parchment paper that will fit just inside the saucepan.
Step 2
In the medium saucepan, add white wine, the Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar, strips of lemon zest, sliced ginger, bay leaves, and the split vanilla bean and the scraped seeds into the wine (see Chef’s Tips). Place over medium heat and slowly bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Step 3
Meanwhile, peel and core the pears. Using a vegetable peeler, peel them using long, even, continuous strokes from the stem to the base, as this will affect how they look once poached. Carefully slice the pears in half. Leave the stems attached. Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds.
Step 4
Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low. Add pears to the wine and place the round of parchment directly on top of the pears, gently pressing down. (Ensure pears are submerged in wine while simmering. Gently rolling pears over halfway through and spooning wine over the pears as they simmer may help, as will the parchment round on top of the pears.)
Step 5
Simmer pears for 20 to 25 minutes (see Chef’s Tips) or until a skewer inserted into pears meets little to no resistance. Take off the heat. Let pears cool in the white wine mixture, carefully rolling them over halfway through the cooling time; 30 minutes.
Step 6
Once cooled, carefully remove pears from the liquid, place them cut-side down into a dish, cover, and set aside in the fridge. Strain wine through a fine mesh sieve and pour wine back into the saucepan; discard solids.
Step 7
Place saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer wine until reduced by about half. Flavours will intensify, and the wine will slightly thicken; 20 minutes.
Step 1
Remove the pears from the fridge. Place a pear onto a serving dish. Spoon the warm white wine reduction over the pears. Serve immediately.
*Use a dry or slightly dry white wine for this recipe as using a sweet white wine may be too sweet. Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, or Riesling are a few options.
*If a vanilla bean is unavailable, replace with 2 to 3 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. Stir this into the poaching liquid just before adding in the pears.
*Ideally, only use firm pears; however, If riper pears are used, check the fruit at the 15 to 18-minute mark to ensure pears do not get too soft.
*For a chilled dessert, transfer the white wine reduction into a heatproof bowl or container and chill; 1 hour. Spoon the chilled white wine reduction over the chilled pears.
*Serve pears as is or garnished with whipped cream, ice cream, or granola.
*Any leftover poached pears can be stored in the poaching liquid in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
*Redpath Simply Raw™ Turbinado Sugar can be used instead of the Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar. Note that the resulting poached pears may be lighter in colour and have less of a caramel undertone in flavour.
