Boiled pears are a very tasty quick treat, and a great way to eat one in five daily servings of fruit. This classic simple recipe is easy to prepare. You can add your favorite flavors or spices to give it a different taste. You can serve it plain or with ice cream, chocolate or candy. To find out how to boil pears, see Step 1 to get started.
Ingredients
Traditional Boiled Pear
- 2 pears, peeled, seeded and halved
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 drops vanilla essence
For extra taste
- 1/2 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp. whole cloves
- 1/4 lemon
- black pepper seeds
- 1-2 starlets
- 3-4 slices of ginger
- 1/4 cup dried sour cherries, cranberries, or raisins
Old Boiled Pear
- 2 ripe pears, halved, cored, each cut into 6 slices
- 4 tbsp. honey
- 4 tsp. honey
- 4 tsp. dried raisins
- 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
- nutmeg powder
- 3/4 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
Step
Method 1 of 2: Traditional Boiled Pears
Step 1. Peel the pear
Slice in half and remove the seeds. You can use a melon spoon or a regular spoon to remove the seeds. You can also quarter the pear instead of halving the pear. You can use any type of pear, although some pears are better because they tend to stay in shape and don't fall apart. Pears suitable for boiling include Bosc pears, Conference pears, Tiny Seckel pears, and Winter Nellis. Pears like Anjou, Comice, or Bartlett tend to fall apart when boiled.
Step 2. Prepare the syrup
Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, then add 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and 2 drops of vanilla essence. Heat until the mixture is warm and the sugar is completely dissolved in the water. For extra flavor, you can add any of the following: 1/2 cinnamon stick, 1 tsp. a whole clove, a quarter of a lemon, black peppercorns, 1-2 star anise, and 3-4 slices of ginger.
- You can add 1/2 cup of honey in place of the sugar for a clearer taste.
- To add more flavor to the syrup, you can make a mixture of half water and half white wine, or 1/4 water and 3/4 red wine.
Step 3. Boil the pears
Spoon half a pear into the boiling water and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Keep it simmering on low to allow the pears to ripen. Otherwise the pears may fall apart in the water. For an extra precaution, you can cut a piece of parchment paper with a large hole in the center to prevent the pears from floating and boiling unevenly. Make sure to keep the pears submerged in the liquid.
Step 4. See if the pears are soft by sticking a knife into the pears gently
You can also use a fork. If the fork stuck in the pear slides down easily, it means the pear is ripe. Boil the pears a little longer if they are still too firm. Once the pears are cooked, add 1/4 cup of sour cherries, cranberries, or raisins to the liquid.
Step 5. Transfer the boiled pears to a serving bowl
You can pour a little syrup over the pears, or you can shrink them (by boiling again for 10-15 minutes to thicken) first and then pour the syrup over the pears. Allow the pears to cool in the liquid for at least 10 minutes.
Step 6. Add sprinkles or garnishes
You can serve pears with cream, a dollop of vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce, chocolate ice cream, fresh raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, a dollop of crème fraîche, ginger or hot cake.
Method 2 of 2: Old Boiled Pears
Step 1. Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C)
Place a large baking sheet in the oven to heat.
Step 2. Peel, remove seeds and slice pears
Peel the skin from the pears, remove the seeds and then slice each pear into 12 slices.
Step 3. Prepare the aluminum foil
Cut 4 sheets of aluminum foil about 30 cm long each, and add 1 sheet on the work surface.
Step 4. Arrange the pear slices on 1/2 foil
Place 6 slices (of one and a half pears) on half the foil, overlapping them slightly.
Step 5. Add the rest of the ingredients
Sprinkle 1 tbsp. honey over the pears, and sprinkle with 1 tsp. raisins, 1/4 tsp. grated lemon, and a pinch of nutmeg. Then fold the foil so that the pear is completely covered inside. You can curl the edges to completely cover the pears.
Step 6. Repeat with the pear slices and remaining ingredients
Continue placing the remaining pear slices on the foil, mixing in with the ingredients, then wrapping in the foil.
Step 7. Put the pears on the baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes
Cook until soft, and wait for the pears to cool completely for at least 15 minutes.
Step 8. Remove the pears from the foil
Open the paper over the bowl to keep the liquid from the cooked pears.
Step 9. Serve
Serve the pears with the liquid with 3 tbsp. vanilla yogurt.
