Fresh Cooked Pears in Spiced Syrup
I’ve turned away from canned pears for the most part because I can’t control the amount of sugar added and they are sort of ordinary tasting and, therefore, not worth the calories. Cooking my own pears seemed a bit daunting, at first. This recipe solves my problem. Not only do the pears cook up beautifully, but the spice combination of cinnamon, cloves, and yes, black peppercorns create a wonderful tanginess to the syrup. I’d say this is one that the grownups will enjoy as much as the kids. If it’s a special occasion, how about a little dollop of ice cream, too!
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
12 peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
3 pears, peeled
Pour the water into a large saucepan and place over low heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Add the peppercorns, cinnamon stick and cloves. Place the pears in the pan. Place a piece of parchment paper over the pears and lay a plate on top of the pan. This will keep the pears under the water so they will tender. Cook over low heat 25 minutes or until the pears are fork tender. Remove the pears and place on a plate. Continue cooking the liquid another 20 minutes or until it becomes a syrup. Strain the liquid to remove the peppercorns, cinnamon stick and cloves. Cut the pears half lengthwise and remove the seeds and core. Slice the pear halves in quarter. Spoon the syrup over the cut pears.
Number of Servings: 6
Serving Size: 1/2 pear with syrup