Pears in Vinho do Porto

Pears in Vinho do Porto dessert is elegant, yet so easy to make to impress your family or guests at your next party.  Be sure to serve a glass of authentic “Vinho do Porto” with it of course!

Vinho do Porto (Port wine) is a Portuguese fortified wine exclusively made in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. Many other countries make port wine but in the EU only wines made in Portugal can be labeled Port or Porto. In the USA wine using the “port” term, are recognized as generic. but the wines name “Porto”, and “Vinho do Porto” are deemed to be exclusively Portuguese.

Ingredients:

3-4 ripe pears

1 cup Vinho do Porto (Port wine)

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

Place the sugar, port, 2 cups water, lemon and orange peel, and cinnamon in a pan. Cook on medium high for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Carefully peel the pears and slice of a 1/4 inch piece on the bottom to make them stand. Place the pears upright in the syrup and bring syrup to boil. Lower heat to medium, cover, and cook for about 50 minutes or until a knife cuts easily through the pears. Remove pears and let cool.

Place pears upright on plate topped with the syrup or make the thick Port glaze below.  Add ice cream and garnish with mint leaves.

Port Wine Syrup Glaze:

Simmer remaining syrup from cooking pears on low heat for another 20 – 30 minutes or until the syrup thickens. Store in jar in the refrigerator up to 30 days. Serve over fruit, ice cream, french toast, pancakes, etc.