Wintery Miele Honey poached pears

We love making these up as a treat on weekends or to add to porridge in the cooler months! They are so soft and delicious with a lovely sweetness from the honey - let us know what you think!

We get our beautiful fresh pears when they're in stock from our friends at Eat Local NZ, they supply fresh veggies right to your doorstep!

Servings: 8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 60 minutes
Total time: 70 minutes

You'll need:

• 4 pears, ripe, yet firm
• 4 C water
• 1/2 C Miele Apiaries Wildflower honey
• 4-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 1 star anise pod
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• squeeze of lemon juice
• 8 oz mascarpone (or crème fraîche, or ice cream)

Peel pears and halve them vertically. Scoop out the core with a spoon.

Bring water to a boil in a pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the honey and a squeeze of lemon, then add the ginger, cloves, anise, and cinnamon. Add the pears, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until pears can easily be pierced with a fork.

Remove pears and set aside. Remove and discard the cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger, anise, and half of the poaching liquid.

Add vanilla to the remaining liquid and simmer 30 minutes, uncovered, until the liquid reduces to a syrupy consistency. Serve each pear with a dollop of mascarpone and a drizzle of the syrup or on top of porridge with a splash of cream.