Spiced Tequila Poached Pears
Pears poached in spiced tequila get drenched in an orange pomegranate sauce infused with triple sec…Spiced Tequila Poached Pears with orange pomegranate sauce makes a lovely dessert for your holiday table… You’ll need about half an hour to make them, and they’re perfect for 2 (or more)!
👩🏻🍳 Tamara Talks – Tequila and Cooking with Alcohol
I hope it’s okay to say tequila is synonymous with Mexican cocktails? I hope I don’t end up in trouble for that statement! 😂 I’ve done a lovely Tequila Cocktail with Blood Orange and Pomegranate for New Year’s Eve 2018 that also featured pomegranate (juice), a Savory Margarita, and an Exotic Tropical Margarita… all truly unique cocktails!
I have featured tequila in 2 sorbet recipes – Mango Margarita Sorbet and Blood Orange Margarita Sorbet. I haven’t yet used tequila in a savory recipe, but I wouldn’t rule it out!
Cooking with alcohol was not uncommon in my early years, as my parents were both excellent cooks and quite adventurous. However, it was typically red wine in a stew or beer in bratwurst. Given my focus on Latin-inspired recipes, it seems appropriate to include tequila in recipes that benefit from a bit of alcohol.
Keep in mind the fact that cooking removes the alcohol and leaves behind the complexity and flavor. Your Spiced Tequila Poached Pears will no longer contain any alcohol, but the flavor is unique (and spectacular).
📋 Ingredients Notes
Here is a quick look at the ingredients in the recipe – it’s handy to use at the grocery store or as a summary of what you need. Skip to the recipe for quantities.
- pears – Choose pears that are still pretty firm. The pear should give a bit when pressed, but fully ripe pears may be hard to work with.
- orange juice and zest – Blood oranges are gorgeous, but their season and availability is limited. Substitute oranges, tangerines, or clementines.
- whole spices – I use cinnamon, star anise, cloves (not pictured below).
- agave nectar – Agave nectar is sweeter than sugar. I don’t love very sweet foods, so I specify one tablespoon. You can easily add additional agave nectar if it doesn’t taste sweet enough. The pears are inherently sweet, so it doesn’t take a lot.
- tequila – Tequila should be a brand that you would use in a cocktail. If it’s not fit to drink, you shouldn’t poach those gorgeous pears in it! PLEASE!
- pomegranate molasses – Pomegranate molasses is the only ingredient that you may have trouble finding. If you can’t find it, you can order pomegranate molasses on Amazon or make your own homemade.
- pomegranate juice – Avoid pomegrante juice with added sugar.
- triple sec – You can use any orange liqueur you have on hand, or omit if you prefer.
- cornstarch
- pomegranate arils for garnish
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🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
- Always gather your ingredients first! You will start by poaching the pears. The orange pomegranate sauce requires only a few ingredients – orange juice, pomegranate juice and molasses, triple sec and corn starch – and it comes together in minutes.
- Poach the pears – Bring the water, tequila, agave nectar, and spices to a boil, add the pears and reduce to a simmer. Cover. Simmer until tender (20-25 minutes). Set aside until ready to serve. While the pears simmer, you can make the sauce.
- Make the orange pomegranate sauce – Combine the juice, molasses, and triple sec. Reduce by a third +/-, then whisk in the corn starch mixed with water. Return the mixture to a boil. When thickened, remove from the heat. Pour into a squeeze bottle or other vessel with a pour spout (a funnel is helpful). Set aside until ready to serve.
- Plate your tequila poached pears – Plate the pears (1 per person). Pour the orange pomegranate sauce over top with a generous puddle at the base. Garnish with fresh pomegranate arils. Serve immediately.
❓FAQ
As mentioned above, you don’t need a fancy tequila for this recipe, but use one you’d add to a margarita or other cocktail.
💭 Tips
- Choice of saucepan is important. You want the pears to be covered with the poaching liquid. Mine is a wee bit small. You need to be able to lift them gently out of the liquid without damaging them. Try placing the pairs in the pan before adding the poaching liquid.
- Serve Spiced Tequila Poached Pears with Orange Pomegranate Sauce hot or at room temperature. You can make the sauce and pears separately, but don’t sauce the pears until ready to serve.
- If you don’t want to buy triple sec (it’s not expensive), just omit it.
- Blood oranges are gorgeous, but their season and availability is limited. Substitute oranges, tangerines, or clementines.
Desserts are a special treat at Andersen casa… Just ask the hubs! I really only make desserts for special occasions like birthdays, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and the holidays. When I entertain, I usually ask a guest to bring the dessert!
I do, however, have a few stellar desserts on Beyond Mere Sustenance that will be standouts on your holiday table. Click here to see a few of them!
Spiced Tequila Poached Pears Recipe
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Ingredients
Spiced Tequila Poached Pears
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups decent tequila - see post or notes
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 4 cloves
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar
- orange peel - without pith; reserve orange for the sauce
- 4 pears - or 1 per person
Orange Pomegranate Sauce
- juice of 1 large orange
- 8 ounces pomegranate juice
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
- 1 tablespoon triple sec - optional
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Instructions
- Bring the water, tequila, agave nectar, spices, and orange peel to a boil. Add the pears and reduce to a simmer. Cover. Cook 20-25 minutes until tender but not soft. Remove from the heat.
- In another pan, combine the juices, pomegranate molasses, and triple sec over medium high heat. Reduce by about a third, then whisk in the corn starch mixed with about 2 tablespoons water.
- Bring mixture back to a boil until thickened. Cool.
- Pour sauce into a squeeze bottle or other pouring vessel. Set aside until ready to serve.
- To serve, plate a pear, pour sauce over top, making sure to leave a generous puddle on the plate.
- Garnish with pomegranate arils.
Notes
Nutrition
NOTE: Macronutrients are an approximation only using unbranded ingredients and MyFitnessPal.com. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
How much agave nectar? Not in ingredients list!
Hello! I apologize for the omission. I have 2 proofreaders, and all three of us missed it. I will edit the recipe right away. I would recommend 1 tablespoon if your pears are nearly ripe. You can taste the poaching liquid and add more if you want it a little sweeter. Agave nectar is sweeter than sugar.
I have to say, this is the first recipe I’ve come across for poached fruit using tequila. So unique and I can’t wait to give these majestic pears a go. You’ve got all the spices I love in this recipe too.
We’re all about the tequila, so it was a natural for me… I’m so happy it turned out well, and the warm spices bring it all together!
I think that spiced tequila and the combination of orange pomegranate sauce is perfect. It is the perfect balance of bitter and sweet so that you can drink it without any problem.
Thanks Greg! It is indeed a lovely combination! Happy holidays to you and yours…