Pears in red wine is a European recipe combining the natural sweetness of pears with the rich depth of red wine. For years, I prepared it the traditional way—plenty of wine, an abundance of sugar, and the essential spices. It was undeniably delicious but not exactly figure-friendly.
Fast forward to a time when I decided to align my lifestyle with Weight Watchers, and I was faced with a dilemma. How could I enjoy one of my favorite desserts without feeling guilty? That’s when I decided to give this classic recipe a modern twist.
I still use pears and the essential spices, but I’ve significantly reduced the red wine. Instead, I combine it with water, a touch of stevia, and a bit of unflavored gelatin to achieve the required syrupy consistency. The result is a guilt-free version of this beloved dessert that’s just as elegant and delicious as the original.
Why you should try this recipe
One of the compelling reasons I keep coming back to this recipe is its stunning visual appeal. Pears in Red Wine effortlessly transform any ordinary table into an elegant, Instagram-worthy spread. The deep crimson hue of the wine-infused pears glistens under ambient lighting, and when garnished with a sprig of mint or a tablespoon of Greek yogurt, it becomes a true work of art.
What’s more, this dish is astonishingly easy to prepare. It essentially involves peeling the pears and gently simmering them in a mixture of wine, spices, water, and stevia for just about 15 minutes. The grand finale is adding a touch of unflavored gelatin to set the syrup, and then letting it cool. It’s a straightforward recipe that yields professional chef-level results, making you the star of the culinary show without breaking a sweat
This revamped dessert is practically guilt-free, carrying just 1 Weight Watchers point. It’s the epitome of a guilt-free indulgence that allows you to savor the sweet, wine-infused pears without compromising your wellness goals.
Ingredients:
· 5 pears (approximately 750 grams)
· 1 cup (240 ml) of red wine
· ¼ cup (60 grams) of granulated stevia
· 1 lime
· 1 cinnamon stick
· 5 all-spice berries
· 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin
· 3 cloves
· ½ cup (120 ml) of water
Servings: This recipe serves approximately 4 people.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Instructions for making Pears in Red Wine
1. Start by peeling the pears (approximately 150 grams each). To prevent them from turning brown, drizzle them with the juice of the lime and set them aside.
2. In a saucepan, combine the water (120 ml), red wine (240 ml), granulated stevia (60 grams), cinnamon stick, all-spice berries, and cloves. Bring this mixture to a boil.
3. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and add the peeled pears. Make sure to rotate the pears every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
4. Simmer the pears in the mixture for about 15 minutes or until about half of the liquid has evaporated. This will infuse the pears with the wine and spice flavors. Continue to rotate them during this process.
5. While the pears are simmering, in a separate small bowl, hydrate the gelatin by mixing it with a little bit of water as per the package instructions.
6. After the pears have simmered, add the hydrated gelatin to the saucepan. Stir it in and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the pears and the syrup to cool.
8. Once cooled, transfer the pears and the syrup to a refrigerator-safe container and refrigerate for a couple of hours or until the dessert is nicely chilled and set.
9. Serve the chilled pears in red wine as a delightful and guilt-free dessert.
Variations and substitutions
1. If you’re looking to switch things up, apples can be a fantastic substitute for pears in this recipe. Choose firm and slightly tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. The cooking process remains the same.
2. For a festive twist, consider adding a touch of holiday spirit. I confess that I often use vegetable food coloring to paint the apples green, creating a vibrant contrast when combined with the red wine-soaked pears. It’s a visually stunning combination of red and green that truly embodies the holiday spirit.
3. This versatile recipe isn’t limited to just pears and apples. You can also experiment with other fruits like peaches and plums.
Tips and Tricks Section for Pears
· Choose pears that are ripe but still firm to the touch. Overly ripe pears may become too soft during cooking and lose their shape. Varieties like Bosc or Bartlett work well for this recipe.
· For a more pronounced flavor, allow the pears to marinate in the red wine mixture in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight before cooking.
· When serving, consider garnishing each pear with a drizzle of the reduced red wine syrup and a sprig of fresh mint.
Related Recipes
Pears in Red Wine
Ingredients
- 5 pears, approximately 750 grams
- 1 cup 240 ml of red wine
- ¼ cup 60 grams of granulated stevia
- 1 lime
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 5 allspice berries
- 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin
- 3 cloves
- ½ cup 120 ml of water
Instructions
- Start by peeling the pears (approximately 150 grams each). To prevent them from turning brown, drizzle them with the juice of the lime and set them aside.
- In a saucepan, combine the water (120 ml), red wine (240 ml), granulated stevia (60 grams), cinnamon stick, all-spice berries, and cloves. Bring this mixture to a boil.
- Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and add the peeled pears. Make sure to rotate the pears every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Simmer the pears in the mixture for about 15 minutes or until about half of the liquid has evaporated. This will infuse the pears with the wine and spice flavors. Continue to rotate them during this process.
- While the pears are simmering, in a separate small bowl, hydrate the gelatin by mixing it with a little bit of water as per the package instructions.
- After the pears have simmered, add the hydrated gelatin to the saucepan. Stir it in and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the pears and the syrup to cool.
- Once cooled, transfer the pears and the syrup to a refrigerator-safe container and refrigerate for a couple of hours or until the dessert is nicely chilled and set.
- Serve the chilled pears in red wine as a delightful and guilt-free dessert.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
