Peras al vino (Pears & wine)

What a delicious dessert! This is typical from northern Spain but also from Asturias and Basque Country. The wine with the sugar makes a wonderful syrup accompanying the pears.

Ingredients

4 pears peeled

red wine

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 cinnamon stick

6 cloves

Directions

1. Place the pears upright in a saucepan and pour in enough wine to cover them.

2. Add the sugar, cinnamon and cloves then bring to the boil.

3. Simmer gently for 1 hour or until pears are tender (depending on size).

4. Carefully drain the pears, cut then in half, do not remove the stem but cut out the core. Place the pear half on a plate with a sprig of mint.

5. Meanwhile boil down the wine mixture until syrupy. Test and add more sugar to taste.

6. Spoon the sauce over the pears. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Serves 4.