Pickled Pears

Chef: Adapted from The Good Food Team Recipe

Course: Snack

Servings: Makes enough to fill a 1-1.5 Kilner jar

Ingredients

• 1 lemon or orange
• 10 cloves
• 1 tsp of black peppercorn, lightly crushed
• 1tsp all spice berries, lightly crushed
• 5cm piece fresh root ginger, sliced.
• 1L of cider or white wine vinegar
• 1kg bag caster sugar
• 2kg of small pears

Instructions

• Step 1

Pare the zest from the lemon or orange and put in a pan with the cloves, peppercorns, allspice berries, root ginger, lemon or orange juice, vinegar, cinnamon sticks and sugar.

Stir over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved.

• Step 2

Peel, core and halve the pears, then add to the pan and simmer for 15 mins, until the pears are tender.

Remove the pears with a slotted spoon and put in a strainer to drain.

• Step 3

Meanwhile, increase the heat under the syrup and boil rapidly for 15 mins, until the syrup has reduced by about a third and slightly thickened.

• Step 4

Pack the fruit into warmed jars and pour over the hot syrup to cover. Seal, label and store in a cool dry place for a month before using.