Spiced Pears in Red Wine

By Lv2Cook

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 3/4 pounds Seckel pears (about 10 whole) peeled
• 1 (750-milliliter) bottle Merlot or other red wine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 5 orange rind strips (3 × 1-inch)
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 1 star anise (optional)
• 5 teaspoons chopped crystallized ginger

Preparation

Step 1

Sprinkle lemon juice over pears; drain.

Combine wine and next 4 ingredients (wine through cinnamon) in a large non-aluminum Dutch oven. Add star anise, if desired; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and cook, covered, 10 minutes. Add pears; simmer 10 minutes or until tender, turning pears occasionally. Remove pears from wine mixture using a slotted spoon. Place in a shallow bowl; set aside.

Bring wine mixture to a boil over high heat; cook 10 minutes or until reduced to about 2 cups. Discard solids. Spoon reduced wine mixture over pears; sprinkle with ginger.

Serving Size: 1 pear, 3 tablespoons wine sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon ginger