Rosewater and Cardamom Poached Pears
Elegant pears gently poached in a fragrant rosewater and cardamom syrup, a light and floral Valentine’s Day dessert. This Mediterranean-inspired Valentine’s Day recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ripe but firm pears, water, granulated sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 140 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4, peeled and halved ripe but firm pears
- 4 cups water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp rosewater
- 6, lightly crushed green cardamom pods
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 whole star anise
- 1, split lengthwise vanilla bean
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large saucepan, combine 4 cups water, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tbsp rosewater, 6 lightly crushed green cardamom pods, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 whole star anise, and 1 split vanilla bean. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Step 2: Add 4 peeled and halved pears to the simmering syrup, ensuring they are submerged. Poach gently for 25-30 minutes, turning pears halfway through, until tender but still holding shape.
- Step 3: Remove pears with a slotted spoon and set aside. Continue simmering the syrup over medium heat until it reduces by half and thickens slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Step 4: Serve pears drizzled with the fragrant syrup, garnished with a few reserved cardamom seeds or edible rose petals for a romantic presentation.







