Drunken Pears are a traditional Portuguese dessert with French influences. This sweet treat consists of soft and juicy pears cooked in a sweet, aromatic syrup made with red or Port wine. It is a recipe greatly appreciated in northern Portugal and, in our home, a Christmas tradition.
This simple recipe requires only a few ingredients: pears, red or Port wine, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon or others of your choice. This dessert will please wine enthusiasts and those who enjoy sweet fruit syrups with a reduced alcohol content after cooking.
Below, we explain step-by-step how to prepare this delicious traditional dessert. Give it a try and bring a piece of Portuguese tradition to your table!
Ingredients
- 1 liter of good red wine. In Portugal we love Verde Wine, for e.g. Vinhão Caste
- 15-20 Rocha Pears, approximately the same size, neither too ripe nor green
- 500g white or yellow sugar
- peel of half a lemon
- 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks
Necessary Utensils
- Large pan to fit all the pears
- Fruit cutting knife
- Fork
- Spoon
Preparation
- Servings: 15 to 20 servings (one pear per person)
- Preparation time: 60 minutes (15 minutes to peel and prepare the pears, plus 45 minutes to cook them on the stove.
- Difficulty level: Easy
Drunken Pears Recipe Step-by-Step
- Peel the pears, but keep them whole, preferably with the stem attached. This way, they look more appealing and are easier to handle.
- Combine the wine, sugar, lemon peel, and cinnamon sticks in a pot. Stir everything until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Place the pears in the pot, standing upright and side by side. Ensure they are fully covered with wine; add more wine if needed.
- Turn the stove to high heat, and cover the pot when the wine begins to boil. Let the pears cook on high heat until tender (about 45 minutes).
- When the pears are cooked, remove them from the pan. To check if they are done, stick a fork in, it should pierce easily.
- After removing the pears, keep the stove on high heat to let the wine thicken slightly. The wine should reach a syrup-like consistency. Remove the cinnamon sticks and lemon peel, remembering the wine will thicken slightly as it cools.
- Place the pears in a deep, elegant serving dish. Pour all the wine syrup over them, ensuring they are well-soaked—hence the name “drunken pears.”
Accompaniments and Serving
Drunken pears are a common dessert on Christmas tables. They are often served alongside king cake, “sonhos,” “rabanadas,” and other delicious traditional sweets of the season. They are eaten with a fork and knife and should be served cold or at room temperature.
We’re a bit traditional in our home and prefer plain drunken pears with just syrup. However, they pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, crème fraîche, or crumble.
Storage
Drunken pears should be stored at room temperature, as refrigeration is not recommended. They can be kept for 2 to 3 days in a sealed container. Freezing them is not advisable.
Final tips
- The measurements in this recipe depend significantly on the volume of the pot and the type of wine used.
- Taste the wine syrup with sugar; it should be pretty sweet. If needed, add more sugar or wine to suit your taste.
- Another version of Drunken Pears combines Port wine and red wine. However, as proud Minho natives, we prefer a good red Verde wine, ideally a Vinhão caste. It is crucial to choose a good-quality wine, as it will significantly impact the flavor of the dessert. If you opt for Port wine, remember to reduce the amount of sugar, as Port is naturally sweeter.
- You can also experiment with other spices besides cinnamon, such as star anise, cloves, sweet peppercorns, or even vanilla. Use the flavors you enjoy most; this recipe is versatile and can be adapted to your preferences.
- Please note that this is a dessert with alcohol. While some alcohol evaporates during the cooking process, a small amount remains, making it unsuitable for children or those who cannot consume alcohol.
Conclusion
Drunken pears are a signature traditional dessert in Portugal. They are sweet, tender, and aromatic, with the flavor of spices. If you enjoy this combination of flavors, try this recipe; it’s straightforward and requires only a few ingredients. Serve as a Christmas dessert or any special occasion, accompanied by a scoop of ice cream or simply with the delicious syrup. It will surely be a hit at your table!
Drunken Pears
Equipment
- 1 Large Pan
- 1 Fruit knife
- 1 Fork
- 1 Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 l Good Red Wine In our region, we use Red Verde wine, Vinhão Caste.
- 15-20 Rocha Pears They should be of the same size and similarly ripe
- 500 g Sugar It can be white or yellow
- 1/2 Lemon peel
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Peel the pears, but keep them whole with the stem attached.
- In a pot, combine the wine, sugar, lemon peel, and cinnamon sticks. Stir everything until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Place the pears in the pot, standing upright and side by side. They should be covered with wine.
- Turn the stove to high heat, and when the wine begins to boil, cover the pot. Let the pears cook on high heat until tender.
- Once the pears are cooked, remove them from the pot. To check if they're done, insert a fork—it should go in easily.
- Let the wine thicken slightly, keeping the stove on high heat.
- Place the pears in a deep, elegant serving dish. Pour all the wine over them, ensuring they are well-soaked.
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