Skip to main content

Vanilla Poached Pears

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 10 pear halves

Ingredients

1 cup dry white wine
3 cups water
1/4 cup honey
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise and seeds scraped
5 ripe, firm Bartlett or Comice pears

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring wine, water, honey, and vanilla-bean seeds and pod to a simmer in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat 5 minutes.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, cut a round of parchment the same diameter as the saucepan. Peel pears and halve lengthwise. Use a small spoon or melon baller to scoop out cores, seeds, and stems. Trim fibrous strip from center with a paring knife. Gently lower pears into pot. Place parchment round directly on pears to keep them submerged (this will help keep them from turning brown).

    Step 3

    Cook until a paring knife slides easily into pears, meeting slight resistance, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool in liquid 30 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pears to a large bowl; cover with cooking liquid and let cool completely. Pears can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Martha Stewart's New Pies and Tarts
Read More
Like “absolutely decadent” chocolate pudding and fattoush salad.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
You’ll never need to look up a holiday turkey recipe again.
Grab your Easter basket and hop in—you’ll want to collect each and every one of these fun and easy Easter recipes.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Biscuits and gravy, but make it spring.
Every salad should have pita chips.