Spiced Pears

• Serves: 4
• Cooks in : 1 hour
• Difficulty: Medium

These are great served as a dessert with a dollop of mascarpone or if you’re feeling decadent why not slice them up and mix with some rocket, walnuts, crumbled blue cheese, a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice for a delicious salad.

Ingredients

• • 8 pears (Williams are great if you can get them)
• • 1 lemon, juiced
• • 150ml white wine vinegar
• • 200g caster sugar
• • 250ml water
• • 3 star anise
• • 6 cloves
• • ½  red chill

Method

1. Peel the pears, keeping the stalks on.
2. Rub with lemon juice, then cut the pears in half and take core out, rub again with lemon juice.
3. Add the white wine vinegar, caster sugar, water, star anise, cloves and chilli to a pan and bring to the boil.
4. Add the prepared pears, cover with greaseproof paper and gently poach  for approximately 10- 20 minutes until softened.
5. Leave to cool down in the cooking liquor.