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Red wine poached pears

Prepare: less than 30 mins
Cook: 30 mins to 1 hour
Serve: Serves 6
Dietary: Egg-free Vegetarian

By Simon Rimmer

From Something for the Weekend

Ingredients

750ml/1 pint 7fl oz red wine
250g/9oz caster sugar
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla pod, split
2 cloves
2 star anise
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
6 firm pears, peeled, but stalk on

For the chocolate sauce

75g/2½oz butter
75g/2½oz sugar
75ml/2½fl oz double cream
75g/2½oz cocoa powder
75ml/2½fl oz water

To serve

crème fraíche
cinnamon powder, to dust

Method

Place the wine, sugar and the herbs and spices into a pan over a medium heat and bring to the boil.
Reduce the heat to a simmer, then add the pears and poach for 20-30 minutes, or until softened, but still firm. (Turn the pears frequently to keep them covered with the wine.)
Remove the pears and set aside. Bring the poaching liquid back up to the boil and cook until the liquid is reduced to a syrup.
For the chocolate sauce, place the butter, sugar, cream, cocoa powder, water and chocolate into a pan over a low heat and stir until melted and combined. Continue to heat the sauce for 4-5 minutes, until thick and glossy.
To serve, place a pear into the centre of each dish of six dishes and pour the chocolate sauce around. Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche. Dust with cinnamon powder.