Asian spiced pears are warm, cozy, delicately sweetened with the aromatics of lovely star anise, cinnamon and vanilla.
Life is short! Lets start with dessert...
Why you are going to love Asian Spiced Pears
While these lovely Asian spiced pears bake in your oven your whole house smells like a gorgeous bouquet of sweet goodness. Unlike other desserts, this one is only delicately sweet and light.
Chinese New Year is a beautiful time of the year in which family and friends gather. Of course when there is a family gathering that always means there needs to be food and lots of it.
Most Chinese dishes are usually stir fried or steamed. Many Chinese dishes are prepared on top of the stove and usually all of the burners are occupied by woks and steamer baskets and such. It can be a little hectic in the kitchen, so that is why this make ahead and pop in the oven easy dessert recipe, is a winner for any gathering.
However, I like Asian spiced pears best because this dish is gluten-free, egg-free, (dairy-free , if you use coconut whipped topping) diabetic friendly, cardiac friendly and even teenagers love it. However, it tastes like you are eating something very sinful and it is not even chocolate.
What is Star Anise and what does it taste like?
Star anise is a spice used in Chinese cooking and other Asian recipes. Star Anise is shaped like a star and has a very distinctive licorice flavoring. If you are going to the Asian markets to buy star anise it is called "Bat gok" in Cantonese and "Ba jiao" in Mandarin. However, if you cannot find whole star anise, don't fret, as you can substitute some 5 spiced Chinese powder in the recipe instead.
You can use any type of pears you like and can even use nashi (Asian pears) or your favorite apples as well. I actually used both pears and apples in my recipe as with my growing teenage boys I did not know if I was going to have enough pears to go around.
If you do not have an oven, you can also make these on top of the stove by first slightly steaming in your wok. Then place a tad of butter in your wok and fry gently on both sides to give a little caramelized glaze to the pears.
My dear friend Joyce commented on Healthy World Cuisine. Joyce mentioned that a dollop of fresh fat-free yogurt instead of whipping topping would be nice if you are watching your fat intake. This is a fantastic idea! I placed a little sugar alternative and a dash of five spiced powder in my fat-free natural yogurt and placed a dollop on top of my Asian spiced pear and it was heavenly. Thank you Joyce and this recipe is for you....
More Delicious Desserts with Fruit
Coconut Rice Pudding with Cardamon Pears
Grilled Nectarines with Coconut Whipped Cream
Easy Peasy Baked Apples
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Asian Spiced Pears
Ingredients
- pears - 1 whole pear per person (bosc, nashi, or whatever kind you like)
- apples - 1 per person (optional)
- star anise - 5 peices (may susbsitute with 1 teaspoon of 5 spice powder)
- cinnamon - 2 sticks (or 1 teaspoon ground)
- vanilla - 1 teaspoon
- butter - 1 tablespoon (or use dairy free smart spread)
- lemon juice - juice of 1 lemon
- sugar or sugar alternative - 4 packets of sweet n low (agave, honey, brown sugar)
- Homemade Coconut Whipping Cream - optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190 degrees C (325 F)
- Wash pears (apples) and dry. Cut in half. Core the pears by cutting out the step and using a spoon to scoop out the core and seeds.
- Immediately squeeze the lemon juice over the pears (apples) to prevent oxidizing.
- In a small sauce pan put in butter, sugar alternative, star anise, vanilla, and cinnamon, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and heat until aromatic and bubbly.
- Spray a oven proof dish with a little spray oil. Place you pears (apples) with core side up in the pan. Pour the aromatic star anise, vanilla, cinnamon and vanilla sauce over the pears. Sprinkle a little ground cinnamon over the top if you wish.
- Pop your pears in the oven uncovered for about 30- 40 minutes until fork tender and are slightly carmelized.
- Step 7: Serve your Asian spiced pears on a decorative plate with a dollop of whipped coconut whipping cream or Asian spiced yogurt or plain and sprinkle with a little cinnamon. Enjoy warm from the oven or at room temperature.
rsmacaalay says
What a coincidence, I made some pear dessert as well and it was pear tarte tatin. Colleague brought a lot at the office the other day
Healthy World Cuisine says
I just love pear tarte tatin and can't wait to head over to your site to get a glimpse of your recipe. I bet the people that you work in the office love all the great food you share with them. I am sure that all new hires are told about the "Ray's Awesome Food employee incentive"! Take care, BAM
yummychunklet says
What a delicious way to prepare pears! Yum!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. It is so easy and so little fuss which makes this a great dessert alternative when hosting guests or for just any day.
john@kitchenriffs says
Great pictures, great recipe, and great looking new site! Really a lovely recipe. BTW, I didn't get an email notification about this post (I follow you through email, and just happened to click on your URL today to see if anything was going on - as it is). Should I resubscribe, or is the email bit one of the things you're still working on? Anyway, good stuff - thanks.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello John, I am so glad you came over for a visit and thank you for your lovely comment! There has been a slight snafu on migrating old e-mails followers over to the new site. Can you please sign back up by e-mail? I will try to keep working on this issue with wordpress to see if they can move people over, but I do not know if it will be successful or not. Take Care, BAM
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
Great lookin' recipe. I love these warm spices in here.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Anne, thanks for your lovely comment. I just made these Asian Pears for the second time when I was a hosting a Chinese Family for Chinese New Year. There is always room for dessert as they gobbled up the whole plate of Asian spiced pears even after they consumed 5 different plates of Chinese dishes. I think these Asian pears are light and a perfect ending. I am on my way to your site just got back from Thailand and had no internet or even phone connectivity for several days. Take Care, BAM
Balvinder says
Desert indeed! I love your new site! Brilliant! Great photographs and the layout is so clean and neat.
Spiced pears sound delicious with all those asian spices.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank so much. I am very happy to hear the positive feedback. I was looking for a way to make it easier to find recipes and look for things by category and also by product. I also really do love the pears as it is a great little dessert without all the guilt. Wishing you a super week and I will be stopping by shortly as I have been in a place without internet or phone. Take Care, BAM
GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway) says
Oh this looks like such a delicious and healthy dessert. I love the comment that it feeds four adults or one teenager. I can reall relate to that 🙂 I will be pinning this recipe 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Teenagers are amazing! I think they may have at least one hallow leg. Where do they put all of that food? Take care and thanks for stopping by. BAM
Tandy says
Love, love, love the new site. As I use star anise so often I have to try this. I think dessert is the way to start every meal 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you much Tandy! The new site was a bit of work and still have things I need to do but it is a "process", right? Star Anise is a beautiful spice and I love the slight numbing sensation it gives. Guess what next week I am visiting a friend who is going to introduce me to cooking some traditional South African dishes. How fun is that? Take care and I am on my way to visit you soon as I just returned from Thailand and had no internet or even phone.... Take Care, BAM
Natalie says
They look perfect, I would totally order this at a restaurant!
Healthy World Cuisine says
How sweet of you to say. Thanks! You can make this for about 1/4 of the cost of what it would be in some fancy restaurant and it is so easy to make. I will be over to your site soon. Take Care, BAM
Alex says
They are absolutely gorgeous. I think the most similar we have is poached pears in Port Wine, but these spices AND the whipping cream on top... White flag! White flag! I surrender. 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Alex for your kind comment. I was actually just brainstorming in the park n shop the other day as I was a hosting a traditional Chinese New celebration and wanted something very easy and simple to make. I also wanted something that would tie into my other 5 savory Chinese dishes and be a light ending for our meal. I was happy as this dessert is super easy to make and the guests loved it as it was just slightly sweet. I also love pears poached in port wine and looking forward to visiting your site today. Happy Cooking and take care. BAM
Korena says
Congrats on the new site BAM! It looks great, and so do these pears, yum!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Korena! I miss your baking and I am on my way to your site now to check out what I have been missing. Take care, BAM
Kathleen Richardson says
BAM, I like that the recipe is separate, printer-friendly and includes a small picture of the food being prepared. Seems so strange to see all this newness, but I continue to follow along with an open mind 'cause I just love what you have to say and cook!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Kathleen, Thanks so much for the repost on facebook and your kind words. I know all new things are difficult at first until you get to know them but give it some time. I think you will find out that there is a lot more great ways to find my recipes and things you are looking for on my site. If you get a minute, go to the top of my site and click on the "advanced search button" and put in something you want to cook with tonight and hit search. How fun is that! Have a super weekend and looking forward to catching up with you after my trip to Thailand. I am sure there will be lots of Thai inspired dishes coming your way. Take Care, BAM
Mich - Piece of Cake says
Your pears are simply drool worthy. I would love this as a healthier dessert.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. I love these Asian spiced pears as they are a light sweet ending to a meal without the guilt. Take care, BAM
neharmorarji says
Great new site! Congratulations!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks so much for coming over to take a look. It was a lot of work and still have many more things I want to update on the site so stay tuned. I am heading on over to your site very soon and can't wait to read about all the goodies I have been missing out on. I'm flying out to Thailand today and will have minimal internet connection but will be back in full force with some new great Thai inspired spring dishes upon my return. Have a super weekend and take care, BAM
Jo (http://blog-diggidy.com) says
MMMMmmmm...nom nom nom. I see your comments are working now! Yay!!! 😉
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks for checking back Jo! I am on my way to visit your site now. Take care, BAM
Karista says
Beautiful Bam! And love the new site. Whoo hoo!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you so much Karista. It is a work in progress and thanks for your patience while I was making the conversion. Now I just want to head to your site as I need some sauce ideas and you are the sauce guru. I am on my way to Thailand to be inspired with some culinary ideas and recipes, now so will be catching up with you upon my return. Happy Cooking and have a super weekend. BAM