The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Recipes => Topic started by: Bionic on May 05, 2013, 02:47:45 pm

Title: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Bionic on May 05, 2013, 02:47:45 pm
I have some nice pears that would poach well but as I am on a diet I don't want to poach them in red wine or lots of sugar. Has anyone tried poaching without either of these?
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: darkbrowneggs on May 05, 2013, 03:01:42 pm
When I had bees I have poached them with honey, but is that not what you mean?


You could try them with that sweet herb (which I can't remember the name of at present, you put it in rhubarb when you poach it, but its not up yet)
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Bionic on May 05, 2013, 03:03:53 pm
I do have some honey but would rather not use that either because of the calories. Would they poach ok with sweetener do you think?
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: darkbrowneggs on May 05, 2013, 03:58:19 pm
Yes - sweeteners would be fine if you don't mind the taste


Put a nice big vanilla pod split in half in the poaching water.
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Bionic on May 05, 2013, 04:03:46 pm
Thanks,   :thumbsup:
I have someone coming to dinner on Tuesday so wanted to do them then but I have a couple of extras so will try it out for dinner tonight first.
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Ina on May 05, 2013, 05:51:47 pm
You could try them with that sweet herb (which I can't remember the name of at present, you put it in rhubarb when you poach it, but its not up yet)

Sweet Cicely.

I would poach them in grape juice - red or white.
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: darkbrowneggs on May 05, 2013, 06:12:09 pm
Sweet Cicely - thats the one  :thumbsup:


But how about this


http://localfoods.about.com/od/grillingtips/qt/How-To-Grill-Pears.htm (http://localfoods.about.com/od/grillingtips/qt/How-To-Grill-Pears.htm)
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Fleecewife on May 06, 2013, 12:17:18 am
I used to do them in vinegar (much nicer than it sounds) but can't remember the recipe all these years later - pickled pears are bound to be online somewhere.
 
Update - I've googled and there are lots of recipes - Delia, Hairy Bikers, Huge Fernley-W.
Unfortunately the recipes involve sugar to make a syrup, although I don't remember using sugar.  Sorry  :hungry:
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Bionic on May 06, 2013, 09:45:04 am
Didn't get round to trying anything out last night. Grilled pears sound interesting though and Ina's suggestion of grape juice sounds good. I hadn't thought of that.  The only reason I didn't want to use wine is that it makes is sooo expensive.
I think I will add some grape juice to my shopping list this week and try it at the weekend.
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Bionic on May 13, 2013, 10:11:20 am
Ina, I poached the pears yesterday in red grape juice and they were lovely. They didn't look as red as when done in wine but I guess I could always add a bit of red colouring if I wanted them a deeper colour.
 
I will definitely cook them again,
Title: Re: Poached pears without lots of sugar or wine?
Post by: Ina on May 13, 2013, 04:26:00 pm
Ina, I poached the pears yesterday in red grape juice and they were lovely. They didn't look as red as when done in wine but I guess I could always add a bit of red colouring if I wanted them a deeper colour.
 

You could always try beetroot juice for a deeper colour - can't give any guarantees for the taste, though!  ;D They use beetroot a lot for food colouring - so maybe just adding a little bit would be enough.