These Pomegranate Poached Pears are beautiful, delicious, and so easy to make! With only six ingredients, this decadent dessert will wow your guests.
One of my favorite things about recipe developing is taking a fancy feeling dish and making it really easy. This poached pear recipe is just that. With a peeler, one pot, and a little over 30 minutes, this delicious dessert is done!
These pears would be delicious with some crème fraîche or vanilla bean ice cream. Yum!
Recipe Inspiration
I've really been loving pears lately. They are a perfectly sweet fruit that is underrated in my opinion. Pears are great for cooking - from savory to sweet, there is so much you can do with them.
I've been seeing some poached pears pop up on social media and on restaurant menus, so I decided to try it out for myself. I love the idea of dying the pear with pomegranate juice.
It gives the pear a really beautiful color and enhances the sweet flavor. Add in some Chardonnay and butter (it is December, after all!) and vanilla, and the flavors melt together perfectly.
The end result is a tender, super juicy pear that's light and sweet. Pomegranate poached pears are a great light dessert option after a heavy meal.
Recipe Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe:
- Ripe pears, peeled (I used Bosc pears)
- Unsalted butter
- Chardonnay
- Pomegranate Juice
- Vanilla extract
- Pomegranate seeds
That's it! With only six ingredients, you'll create a delicious and decadent dessert!
Pomegranate Poached Pears Directions
First, peel the pears, keeping the stems in tact. I keep the stems on so you have something to grasp when turning the pears. Plus, it looks pretty!
I used Bosc pears, but Anjou pears are also a good choice. Here's a good article from The Spruce Eats on which pears to choose for baking vs eating.
Place peeled pears on their sides in a large saucepan. Add the butter, Chardonnay, pomegranate juice, and vanilla to the pot. Cook on medium heat until the liquid starts to simmer.
Cover the saucepan, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
As the pears cook, turn gently so the color is even throughout the pears.
After 30 minutes the pears should be perfectly tender. Remove from pot and set aside.
Turn up the heat and boil down the remaining liquid until it's thickened into a sauce. Spoon reduced sauce over the pears and serve with pomegranate seeds.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
Saucepan - Here is my favorite saucepan from Cuisinart. I use this multiple times a week for so many different cooking projects. It distributes heat so evenly and is easy to clean.
Pomegranate Juice - You can find pomegranate juice in some grocery stores. If yours does not carry it, order it from Amazon! Here's my favorite brand that I buy.
Small Ceramic Pitcher - Perfect for pouring the reserved sauce. I love keeping a small ceramic pitcher in the kitchen for creamer, sauces, or pouring chocolate. Check out this one- it's adorable!
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
Here are some substitutions and variations for this recipe:
Pear - I recommend using Bosc pears for this recipe. If you can't find them, Anjou pears are a good substitute as well.
Wine - I used Chardonnay in this recipe, but you can use there types of wines as well. Some white options would be Pino Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, and some red options would be Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Spices - This recipe only uses vanilla, but you can get creative! Adding cinnamon, cloves, or spices like star anise would add to the flavor. Another great idea would be adding citrus in addition to the pomegranate juice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pears should be ripe when you poach them. Not too soft and not too firm, you want a perfectly ripe pear to achieve the best texture in a poached pear.
Poached pears will last for 3-5 days when stored in an air tight container in the fridge. Store some of the sauce with the pears and gently reheat when ready to eat.
More Dessert Recipes
Looking for more dessert recipes? Check some of our delicious favorites:
Browned Butter Sour Cream Crumb Cake - This cake is so good and perfect for sharing! Browned butter makes everything taste better, and this cake is no exception. The sour cream makes this cake taste super moist. It's delicious with coffee as a breakfast or as a dessert.
Pumpkin Spiced Apple Galette - If you've never made a galette, this is your sign! A galette is a sweet or savory open faced pastry with a puff pastry base. This version uses store bought puff pastry to make things easier, plus a honey apple filling. Yum!
Bourbon Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - Need I say more? With bourbon browned butter, these cookies are SO delicious. I love the chocolate with the sweet, nutty browned butter. This truly is one of my favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Pomegranate Poached Pears
Ingredients
- 4 ripe Bosc pears
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup Chardonnay
- 1 cup pomegranate juice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Pomegranate seeds for serving
Instructions
- Peel pears, leaving the stem in tact. Place pears on their sides in a large saucepan and add butter, Chardonnay, pomegranate juice, and vanilla. Cook on medium heat until the liquid starts to simmer.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. As the pears are cooking, turn gently as needed so they color evenly.
- Once the pears are tender, gently remove pears to a plate.
- Boil down the remaining liquid until slightly thickened. Spoon reduced sauce over pears and serve with pomegranate seeds.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or tag us @tasting.with.tina on Instagram!
Mary says
Wow! These were seriously so easy and so good.
Christina Musgrave says
Aren't they just the best dessert?!