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Make this delightful guilt-free dessert with spicy pears. Pears are soaked instead of poached in spices to give them vibrant and delicate spicy flavor while enhancing their health benefits.
For years I avoided buying pears! Because pears are fragile and don't store well. I like having fruits hanging around in my kitchen that we can bite on anytime! This recipe keeps your pears a little longer.
Beautiful lovely, ever seen those mesmerizing poached pears and wanted to make some, but then the ingredients just put you off? Poached pears call for sugar and sometimes fat and alcohol, which are a no-no for an anti-inflammatory diet!
I came up with this recipe, and if you make it right, you'll no longer miss those wine-poached pears! These soaked pears are guilt-free, and you can eat them anytime! I love them as a quick breakfast or a healthy treat.
These spicy pears are fat and sugar-free desserts that are tasty and super healthy. They are great on their own and can be added to breakfast bowls or baking.
To make these pears, I use different spices. Spices are superhouse of antioxidants and have been used for centuries in traditional and herbal medicine. The pears are "cooked" by the spices, leaving them tender to melt in your mouth.
Once you soak the pears for at least 24 hours, sieve the soaking water and store it in a jar or bottle. This liquid is loaded with healing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I like drinking a glass first thing in the morning.
Which pears are best for soaking
You might be used to poached pears where you need pears that hold well during cooking, soaking is quite the contrary. Look for a variety that's soft but not ripe. The spices will "cook" the pear.
Softer pears like Comice or Bartlett (Williams in France) are perfect. However, the pears must be firm with a well-rounded bottom.
How to make soaked pears
These soaked pears are ridiculously easy to make and will take you no time to prepare.
I use different spices, raisins, and dried red hibiscus flowers. (Get hibiscus flowers from Asian or African groceries).
Peel the pears, place them in a large bowl together with the other ingredients, and then pour boiling water and leave the pears to soak for at least 24 hours.
The key here is to let the pears soak longer so they can suck up the spices and the water, rendering tasty and flavorful pears.
My favorite spices to soak pears are nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, star anise, and cloves. Customize your spice blend but remember that many flavors can spoil the end result.
How to use non-poached pears
These non-poached spicy pears are delicious on their own. However, serve them as a light dessert with healthy ice cream, or incorporate the pears into your baking.
Enjoy them diced and mixed with yogurt or alongside a favorite pancake or cake.
These spiced pears are tremendous when served at room temperature.
How to store soaked pears
Once the soaking is done, remove the pears from the soaking water and place them in a storage container (preferably standing), pour in some soaking liquid, then close the container.
Keep soaked pears in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This spicy-soaked pears recipe will be a game-changer for you. I would love to read your observations. Please give me feedback.
Sending you my love, Githu
Spicy non-poached pears
Equipment
- melon baller spoon
Ingredients
- ½ cup red hibiscus dried flowers ( a small handful)
- ¾ cup raisins (without any sugar added to them)
- 1 pomegranate (optional)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- a few cloves
- a few star anise
- nutmeg nut
- 3 pears (firm)
- boiling water
Instructions
- Boil a large amount of water in a water kettle (about 1.5l)
- In a large bowl, put the anise, clove, hibiscus, and pomegranate arils
- Break cinnamon sticks into chunks. I use a harmer. Put the chunks in the bowl
- Using a vegetable grater, grate the nutmeg. A few scrapes will do
- Clean and wipe the pears. Peel them using a vegetable peeler
- Use a melon spoon to scoop out the base. Just once.
- Place the pears standing in the bowl. Cover them with the boiling water.
- After a few hours, stir the spices with a wooden spoon
- Keep turning the pears now and then to allow all sides to be colored.
- Remove from the soaking water and serve at room temperature, if not, store in an air-tight container in your fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
- These soaked pears aren't sugared as the poached ones. The goal here is to have something healthy that will offer healing benefits. If you would like these pears to be sweeter, choose honey instead of adding sugar.
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