Poached Pears with Dulce de Leche Sauce
Two-in-one recipes are more fun when booze is involved. That is fact. In this recipe, we end up with bonus snifters of basic vino caliente, or South American mulled wine, to go with blushing red poached pears. Granted, there isn’t anything exclusively South American about the spiced wine component, but vino caliente sounds much cooler than “hot wine,” doesn’t it?
Once the pears are poached, some of the spiced wine is simmered down into a light and fruity syrup. The wine reduction keeps the richness of the dulce de leche sauce in check.
Warm dessert. Spiced wine. Winter will be over before you know it. For sunnier days, serve the pears with dulce de leche ice cream or make a granita out of the leftover vino.
recipe adapted from Maria Baez Kijac’s The South American Table
Peras con Salsa de Dulce de Leche
Poached Pears with Dulce de Leche Sauce
makes 4 generous servings
4 ripe but firm Anjou or Bartlett pears
walnuts or pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped for garnishing
For the Poaching Liquid:
1 1/2 cups dry red wine
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick
a strip of zest from 1 lemon or lime
For the Dulce de Leche Sauce:
1/2 cup dulce de leche
1/2 cup light whipping cream
1 tablespoon rum or brandy (optional)
Notes:
- The poached pears, spiced wine syrup, and dulce de leche sauce can be made ahead of time. Reheat just before serving.
Instructions:
- Prepare the poaching liquid. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the red wine, water, sugar, cinnamon stick, and citrus zest to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- While the poaching liquid simmers, prepare the pears. Peel, cut in half lengthwise, and core to remove the seeds.
- Add the pears to the poaching liquid. Cover and poach the pears for about 10 minutes, until tender but still firm. Transfer the pears to a large platter.
- Remove all but 1 cup of the poaching liquid from the saucepan (reserve the excess wine and enjoy as a warm beverage). Simmer the remaining wine over medium heat until reduced by half and slightly thickened.
- Prepare the dulce de leche sauce. Heat the dulce de leche and cream over medium heat. Stir until smooth and continue cooking only until the sauce is heated through. Remove from the heat and stir in the rum or brandy (if using).
- Spoon a few tablespoons of the dulce de leche sauce on small serving plates. Slice the poached pears and set on top of the dulce de leche sauce. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the spiced wine syrup over the pear slices and top with walnuts or pecans. Serve while still warm.
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January 13th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
This looks so lovely and elegant. Pears and dulce de leche are a wonderful flavor combination.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
It sure looks orgasmic but the photographs are beautiful!!!! I agree, Pears and dulce de leche are fab combos..
January 13th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Jude, what a stunning first photo and delicious sounding dish. That sauce looks so velvety!
January 14th, 2009 at 12:03 am
MMmmm, this looks wonderful! … I’m always looking for excuses to eat dulce de leche.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:10 am
A wonderful combination! What a delightful and refined dessert!
Cheers,
Rosa
January 14th, 2009 at 12:23 am
You said it. Things are more fun when booze is involved. That is what you said, no?
January 14th, 2009 at 1:08 am
heaven – pure heaven! i am unable to say more because i am salivating too much!
January 14th, 2009 at 2:40 am
That looks divine, I think I would sit there admiring it for the longest time!
January 14th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Your dessert is so elegant, beautifully plated and beyond delicious!
You are the master!
January 14th, 2009 at 7:18 am
It’s fate. I already have all of the ingredients. That means I *have* to make it, right? And thank you for saying that winter will be over before we know it; it makes the -10 degree weather with -35 degree windchill seem not quite so bad.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Hi Jude! Yes, the booze adds a special little something, I agree
I love dishes like this.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Dulce de leche combined with poached pears would have never crossed my mind, but I love the sound of it. I also really like the plating as you don’t typically see poached pears served this way (not to mention the photo itself, which looks excellent)
January 14th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Oh, what an interesting sounding dessert
January 14th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I’ve always wanted to make poached pears – I think this is the recipe I’ve been waiting for!
January 14th, 2009 at 8:54 am
This is exactly what I need for the cold days ahead. Great recipe!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Such an elegant presentation and dish!
January 14th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Beautiful, and sounds delicious!
January 14th, 2009 at 11:13 am
i’m fairly certain that all recipes are more fun when booze is involved…
and i know for a fact that all desserts are improved by a little dulce de leche…well, most of ‘em.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:20 am
What pretty dessert. This is such a nice reflection of the cold weather (and I love that it doesn’t require baking).
January 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am
The cure for winter cold – I do love this!
Seems like you must have a lot of pears on hand Jude, and you’re doing magic with them. Keep it going.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:39 am
these look so nice! I would have never thought of combining dulche de leche with wine
great! I bet the taste is so goooood !!!!
January 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
My first vist. Gorgeous blog and photos. I love pears and enjoyed reading the past 2 posts.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Such a beautiful presentation! That would certainly be an elegant final course to serve at any meal.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
That looks just so perfect. & yes alcohol surely makes it taste better:-)
January 14th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
What a classy dessert. I also like how you can prepare the components ahead of time – my only fear is that there might not be enough vino caliente or dulce de leche left by the time I need to assemble the dish.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Now this is truly a work of art. So, so beautiful!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
As I was reading through the first part, I was thinking, wow, wine-poached pear and dulce de leche — what a great combination? Could a bit of rum make this even more interesting?
Then I scrolled down and there it was, the suggestion on adding rum or brandy …
Thanks a lot for sharing the recipe. I’ll definitely try it.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
To die for, Jude! The first photo is absolutely gorgeous!
January 15th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Yes, vino caliente sounds much more exotic and grown up. As a winemaker, “hot wine” just doesn’t have that ring to it.
January 15th, 2009 at 3:07 am
This is what I call magnet food. It’s beautiful, it’s dreamy, you can taste it right from the picture – yup count me in.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:58 am
That photo doesn’t even look real it’s so breathtaking. Wow, nice work!
January 15th, 2009 at 9:58 am
The aroma alone from poaching the pears wins me over. The home is filled with that warm smell.
I’m going to try this…slicing the pears for that colour contrast.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Hi Jude!
What can say absolutely incredible…You know that my weakness is dulce de leche
Always drooling with these sweet recipes!!
Gera .:. sweetsfoods
January 15th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
This looks so artistic, and did I mention delicious?
January 15th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Oh booze makes everything better! We’re ready for a slice!
January 15th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
mmm mmm boozed up fruit! And that picture looks ethereal!
January 15th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
This poached pear is divine. I love dulche de leche. Sometimes I use it as a spread on my bread. Scrumptous!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Definitely not good for my diet, but I do love a good scoop of dulce in my more indulgent times!
January 16th, 2009 at 1:10 am
wow!its looks scrumptious!
January 16th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Oh my! Looks so pretty!! Love the colours and how the pears sit on a pool of creamy dulche de leche. Delicious!
January 16th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Thanks so much for stopping by my site. I’ve always loved yours, as your instructions are so precise. These pears look beautiful, and so tasty!
January 16th, 2009 at 9:56 am
That dulce de leche sauce sounds wonderful, especially with poached pears!
January 16th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Seeing the beautifully poached pears, I can forget about the subzero temperature we are having for awhile.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I have a feeling I would LOVE this because I am obsessed with this poached pear and caramel sauce dessert I had once at Kiki’s Bistro.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
This is my type of recipe, Jude… I love baked pears and add the caramel sauce–wow! I will bookmark this wonderful dessert. Thank You!
January 16th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Every thing’s more fun with booze
I love how sophisticated this looks, and I can bet it tastes fantastic (I have a huge crush on dulce le leche!).
January 16th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Sounds great. I’ve been on a pomegranate kick lately and have been poaching them in pomegranate juice, but after 3 consecutive batches, it’s getting old. I’m making this next time:-) Thanks for the idea!
January 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
That looks so good!
January 18th, 2009 at 6:40 am
That looks amazing!!
January 18th, 2009 at 9:44 am
so beautiful! and so delicious looking. Can I come to your place for dinner? Hehe
you are an excellent cook and photographer!
January 18th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
i don’t know how this could be any more beautiful and simple. This would be the perfect ending to a fabulous dinner party. Not too heavy and just sweet enough.
January 18th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
You, sir, are going to make me fat with recipes like this…
January 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Beautiful presentation, and gorgeous photos!
January 20th, 2009 at 12:02 am
use of red wine in this dessert is absolutely heavenly =D
January 20th, 2009 at 1:12 am
What a beautiful dessert! I love that sauce and pears and caramel are the perfect combo.
January 20th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Jude, this looks so good! I especially love the pic where the pear and spices are immersed in the pot of wine. Lovely!
January 20th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Beautiful presentation. I just love pear desserts, especially this time of the year.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
as someone here said, you are doing magic with the pears! beautiful! When I plan to make dulche de leche I knw wher to go now.
Lovely!
January 26th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Thanks for dropping by guys!
Just realized that I sound like a chronic alcoholic in this post. Just be yourself, I guess.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Wow! I agree with the others. This is a work of art! Beautiful pictures!
October 27th, 2009 at 7:05 am
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