It’s Autumn and pears are in season. One of the more elegant yet easy desserts to serve are poached pears. Poaching means to cook something gently in a liquid.

We have pears and the poaching liquid here is sugar, water, lemon peel, spices and Greek honey.

Serve these pears with thick Greek-style yogurt, some crumbled almond cookies or granola and this will make a wonderful dessert to serve.

Honey Poached Pears, Greek Yogurt

(serves 4)

1 1/2 cup sugar

4 cups water

1/2 cup Greek honey

2 inch stick of cinnamon (or 1 whole star anise)

3 strips of lemon peel

4 Bosc or Anjou pears, halved and de-seeded

1 tsp. vanilla extract

approx. 2 cups strained Greek yogurt

Garnish

crumbled Amygdalota (almond) cookies or my homemade granola

1. Use a pot that will contain all your pear halves. To the pot add the sugar, water, honey, cinnamon, lemon peel and over medium heat simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Carefully place the pears in the poaching liquid, cover with parchment paper (with a small hole in the middle).
3. Poach the pears in a very gentle boil, for about 15 minutes or until a knife can can easily pierce through.
4. Remove pears from the liquid and allow to cool. Continue simmering the poaching liquid for another 15 minutes or until thick then allow to cool.
5. To serve, spread yogurt on each plate, place pear halves on top, spoon over poaching liquid, garnish with crumbled almond cookies or granola and serve.

Pro Tip: Want to save some money? Make your own Greek style yogurt by placing full fat plain yogurt in a sieve with a pot underneath to catch liquid. Strain overnight.

Make Ahead: Place cooled pears in a small container and cover with cooled liquid and place in the fridge.