Ginger-spiced pears

Ginger-spiced pears

Make and store preserved fruits for a month or so and serve alongside cold meats and cheeses

Difficulty and servings

Easy

MAKES 2kg/4lb 8oz

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 30 mins

Cook time

Cook 25 mins

Method

  1. Put the sugar, vinegar, orange zest and juice, ginger, bay leaves and peppercorns in a large pan. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar, then boil for 5 mins.
  2. Meanwhile, peel, core and halve or quarter the pears, depending on size. Add the pears to the pan and poach gently for 10-15 mins until they are just tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and pack into warm sterilised Kilner jars with rubber seals (see tip below).
  3. Boil the vinegar mixture hard to reduce by a third, then pour over the pears, including the spices. The pears need to be completely covered with the liquid. Fit the rubber seal and clamp the jar tightly closed. Reserve any leftover syrup for topping up the jars later, as the pears will absorb the syrup over time. Store for up to 2 months.
Try

STERILISING YOUR JARS

Wash in hot soapy water, rinse, then drain and set upright in a roasting tin in one layer. Put in the oven at 180C/ 160C fan/gas 4 for 10 mins. If your jars have a rubber seal, remove before putting the jars in the oven. To sterilise the seals, simply boil in water.

PER 2 TBSP

47 kcalories, protein 0.0g, carbohydrate 11.0g, fat 0.0 g, saturated fat 0.0g, fibre 1.0g, sugar 11.0g, salt 0.0 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2012.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • 29 November 2012

    Geoff O'Connell commented on this recipe

    WHERE CAN I GET RIPE PEARS TO MAKE THIS RECIPE - THE ONLY ONE'S I CAN FIND ARE SMALL AND AS HARD AS BILLIARD BALLS - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LOVELY, SOFT WILLIAM PEARS?

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  • 08 December 2012

    Sally Healy rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Absolutely divine. My husband would drink the syrup alone if I let him. Made these for gifts to give to hosts his Christmas and they look really special with a ribbon tied round and a labelled with a nice luggage tag. Think they will go down a storm and will be an easy pudding option with some ice cream.

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

MAKES 2kg/4lb 8oz

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 30 mins

Cook time

Cook 25 mins

Ingredients

  • 500g granulated sugar
  • 500ml white wine vinegar
  • pared zest (use a vegetable peeler) and juice 1 orange
  • 5cm piece ginger , thinly sliced (no need to peel)
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1½kg small ripe pears
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PER 2 TBSP

47 kcalories, protein 0.0g, carbohydrate 11.0g, fat 0.0 g, saturated fat 0.0g, fibre 1.0g, sugar 11.0g, salt 0.0 g

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