Mulled wine poached pears

These poached pears with vanilla spiced cream make an easy, low-cost festive dessert.

Serves: 4

Time to make: 35 mins

Ingredients

1 cup red wine
juice and zest of 1 orange, plus 1 tablespoon zest, to serve
3 tablespoons brown sugarlight brown cane sugarX
1 vanilla bean, cut in half
2 cinnamon sticks
4 firm pears, peeled with stalks intact
⅓ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Vanilla spiced cream
4 tablespoons low-fat plain yoghurt
1 teaspoon vanilla paste
2 tablespoons crème fraiche
sprinkling of mixed spice

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Instructions

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In a small deep pan, large enough to fit pears snugly, place 3 1/2 to 4 cups water, wine, orange zest and juice, sugar, vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks. Heat gently, stirring, to dissolve the sugar.
Add pears then cover. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until tender. Test with a sharp knife, which should slide into the pear easily.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine all spiced cream ingredients.
Lift pears out of the pan and set aside, then turn heat up and bring remaining liquid to the boil. Add blueberries and boil for a few minutes until slightly syrupy. Serve pears with berries, warm syrup poured over, and spiced cream and orange zest.

Variations

Make it gluten free: Check mixed spice is gluten free.

HFG tip

Leftover syrup can be served over dried fruits with low-fat yoghurt.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 225 cal

Kilojoules 940 kJ

Protein 2 g

Total fat 3 g

Saturated fat 2 g

Carbohydrates 35 g

Sugar 30 g

Dietary fibre 4 g

Sodium 40 mg

Calcium 90 mg

Iron 1 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.