Poached saffron pears

Poached saffron pears

Try infusing pears with the taste of saffron to make a unique and tasty pudding

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 35-45 minutes, plus overnight marinating

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Method

  1. Soak the saffron in warm water and leave for an hour. Dissolve the caster sugar in the water and ginger wine in a medium pan. Turn up the heat and boil for 3-4 minutes before adding the star anise and orange peel. Turn the heat to low and add the pears, peeled with stalks left on. Press scrunched greaseproof paper lightly over the pears. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, occasionally turning.
  2. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl. Strain the syrup into a jug and stir in the soaked saffron and liquid. Pour over the pears. Cover and chill for 24 hours, turning once.
  3. Place each pear on a separate plate, drizzle over a little syrup. Serve with dollops of mascarpone.

Per serving

199 kcalories, protein 1g, carbohydrate 36g, fat 1 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 3g, sugar 26g, salt 0.03 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, March 2004.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • 26 January 2009

    Emily rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I didn't have any saffron, so used a cinnamon stick instead. The ginger wine makes a really lovely sauce for the pears. I served with a pot of Jersey cream with cointreau. Lovely light way to end a meal.

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  • 02 February 2009

    Irene commented on this recipe

    I made this for New Years Eve dinner party for neighbours, sooo impressive, looked as pretty as the picture, my cooking does not usually look like the picture!!! Tasted as good as it looked , I liked the fact that you made it the day before so could get on with the other courses knowing that the pud was safely in the fridge. Irene

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  • 04 February 2009

    Irene rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • Binder photo tjs

    10 October 2009

    tjs rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a fantastic recipe and the taste of the saffron was amazing. I served it after a curry whish was perfect as I alway struggle for dessert ideas after spicy food. Might try putting a little more ginger wine in and reduce water as the ginger taste was a little over powered by the saffron - not that it mattered though. Will def do this again.

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  • 03 October 2010

    Sunshiner rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 30 October 2010

    Blondie rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I did as tjs susgested and added more ginger wine (100mls total) and found the flavours were well balanced. Would add slightly less sugar next time (and there will be a next time) as I found once I reduced the syrup it was a bit too sweet. Though this could have been due to the increased ginger wine. So easy and delicious. Make sure you serve this at room temperature to make the most of the flavour

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  • 28 March 2012

    Rakhi Gupta rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Great recipe, very tasty. But I would like to serve them warm, what is the best way to reheat them after they are prepared the day before?

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 4

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 35-45 minutes, plus overnight marinating

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

One to impress

Ingredients

  • saffron , generous pinch
  • 6 tbsp warm water
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 175ml water
  • 75ml ginger wine
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 strip orange peel , pared with a peeler
  • 4 medium Conference pears , peeled with stalks left on
  • dollops of mascarpone , to serve
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Per serving

199 kcalories, protein 1g, carbohydrate 36g, fat 1 g, saturated fat 0g, fibre 3g, sugar 26g, salt 0.03 g

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