Elevate your Plate

Back story:

It was a Monday lunchtime. I went into the kitchen and opened the cupboard and noticed something glistening in the back. After further inspection, it was a bottle of red wine which had been collecting dust. I paused and wondered why I hadn’t used it. Maybe it stemmed from the fact that I naturally prefer a bottle of White or Rosé over Red to accompany a meal. And so I decided my best option was to use it in cooking. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is a red wine casserole, but I really fancied making something sweet. After trawling through search engine inputs, I came across this red wine poached pear recipe (link below). After taking one bite, I knew this recipe was special. I shared pictures with friends, and this recipe began to gain traction. I have since made it with multiple people and each one has told me that they have enjoyed it (see the quotes below).

Recipes:

Poached pears: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/red-wine-poached-pears-recipe-5217450

Ice-cream: https://www.nigella.com/recipes/one-step-no-churn-coffee-ice-cream

Biscuit crumb: Bash a handful of biscuits in a sealed bag with a rolling pin, and scatter on your serving plate.

Tips and tricks:

• When poaching the pears, keep an eye on the syrup as it can bubble over.
• I used vanilla extract in the ice cream in the image above instead of the suggested coffee flavour in the recipe, as I thought the vanilla wouldn’t over-power the pears.
• I would use ginger biscuits for the biscuit crumb to compliment the dish.

Recommendation and rating:

Overall this recipe is amazing. I implore you to try it if you’ve got a spare bottle of red wine sitting on your shelf, because you won’t be disappointed. The decadent sauce balances the sweet pears so well. With contrast provided from the cold ice cream, which helps to bring everything together. The biscuit crumb provides texture that is needed to counteract the heavy softness already on the plate. The dish is a winner. Perfect if you’re having a cosy night in on a cold winters evening or if you need a dessert to impress guests at a summer dinner party. Despite its simplicity, it’s a crowd pleaser that most would love to try! My rating is 5 stars!

“Easy enough to make and is good with multiple accomplishments”

“The syrup makes the dish”

“Definitely will make this again”

“Looks and tastes delicious”