Photo: Rosser1954, Public domain · source

Compote · From Bladwijzer

Wild pears stewed in red wine

Updated on 9 October 2026

• Makes: 4 servings
• Time: 1 hr
• From: Wild pear

Ingredients

• 500 g wild pears
• 400 ml red wine or unsweetened apple juice
• 200 ml water
• 80 g sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves
• 1 strip of zest from an unwaxed orange

Method

1. Wash the pears, cut off the blossom end and leave the stalk on. Peeling is optional.
2. Bring the wine (or juice), water, sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange zest to the boil and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Add the pears, put the lid on and simmer gently for 45–60 minutes, until they are soft when pierced with a knife. Wild pears are hard: be patient.
4. Lift the pears out of the pan with a slotted spoon and set them aside.
5. Boil the cooking liquid down by half without a lid, to a light syrup.
6. Pour the syrup over the pears and leave to cool. Serve warm or cold, with yoghurt, rice pudding or game.

Storing: A week in the fridge in their syrup. They can be frozen for up to 6 months.