Rice Free Spiced Poached Pears in Pomegranate Juice
Elegant, deeply flavored, and naturally free of grains in any form, this poached pear dessert is the kind of thing that looks like it came from a restaurant kitchen but comes together in a single saucepan. Firm Bosc or Anjou pears are gently simmered in a heady mix of pomegranate juice, grape juice, warm cinnamon, star anise, fresh ginger, and a strip of orange zest until they turn jewel-toned and silky all the way through. The poaching liquid is then strained and reduced into a glossy, lightly spiced syrup that gets spooned back over the pears — so nothing goes to waste and every bite is intensely aromatic. A scatter of pomegranate arils and roughly chopped pistachios adds a little crunch and color if you want to dress things up for company. Because every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, there's no need to scan labels for hidden starches or grain-based thickeners — the syrup reduces naturally to a beautiful consistency all on its own. This is the kind of dessert that feels indulgent without being heavy, and it works just as well served warm on a cool evening as it does at room temperature after a long, leisurely dinner.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 firm bosc or anjou pears
- 2 cups 100% pomegranate juice
- 1 cup 100% purple grape juice
- 1 cup water
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole star anise
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 4 whole black peppercorns
- 1 strip orange zest (about 3 inches), pith removed
For serving
- 2 tbsp pomegranate arils (optional)
- 2 tbsp dry-roasted pistachios, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Peel the pears, halve them lengthwise, and use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out the core and seeds. Leave the stems on if you prefer a more elegant presentation.
- 2
Combine the pomegranate juice, grape juice, water, honey, cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger slices, peppercorns, and orange zest strip in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring once or twice until the honey dissolves, about 3–4 minutes.
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