Spiced Pickled Pears

Preserved in a lightly spiced pickle, pears are a great accompiament to any festive feast. Serve cold with cheese and cold cuts or warm with roast duck or goose. Makes approx 1 x 1.5L Kilner® Clip top Jar. Can be stored for 12 months.

Ingredients and Method

Ingredients

1kg Conference Pears, small and ripe
400g Granulated Sugar
300ml Cider Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar
25g Fresh Root Ginger, bruised
5cm Cinnamon Stick
1 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Allspice Berries

Method

Place all the ingredients apart from the pears and cloves into a pan and cook on a low heat mixing constantly until the sugar has dissolved.
Once dissolved, bring the contents of the pan to the boil then reduce to a simmer.
Whilst simmering, peel the pears with the stalks still on.
Push 2 cloves into each pear and place into the liquid in the pan. Gently simmer until they are cooked through but not too soft.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the pears from the hot vinegar mix and place them into warmed jars that have been sterilised. For information on how to sterilise Kilner jars check out our how to guides.
Boil the vinegar syrup for 5 minutes, and then strain the liquid into the jars over the pears.
Cover with vinegar-proof lids. Store for a month before opening.