Port Syrup Recipes

MAPLE-GARLIC MARINATED PORK TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• Combine mustard, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, and maple syrup. Place pork in a shallow dish and coat thoroughly with marinade. Cover, then chill in the refrigerator at least eight hours, or overnight.
• Preheat grill for medium-low heat.
• Remove pork from marinade, and set aside. Transfer remaining marinade to a small saucepan, and cook on the stove over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
• Brush grate with oil, and place meat on grate. Grill pork, basting with reserved marinade, for approximately 15 to 25 minutes, or until interior is no longer pink. Avoid using high temperatures as marinade will burn.

OLD-FASHIONED POUNDED CHEESE WITH WALNUTS AND PORT SYRUP

Steps:

• To make the port syrup, combine the port and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer gently until reduced to a light syrup (it will start to throw bigger bubbles and should be the consistency of maple syrup), about 3 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Break the cheddar cheese into chunks and drop them into a food processor. Process until pureed. Add the butter, mustard, black pepper, and cayenne and process, stopping often to scrape down the sides, until whipped and smooth.
• Transfer the cheese to a shallow dish, break up the walnut halves and drop them on top, and drizzle with the port syrup.
• Note: The pounded cheese can be made a few hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Or it can be made the day before and kept in the refrigerator; just be sure to bring it back to room temperature before garnishing with the port syrup and nuts.

PORT WINE SYRUP

Steps:

• Mix everything together in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until mixutre reduces to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Strain into a medium bowl

SPICED PLUM CREPES WITH PORT SYRUP

Steps:

• Put the plums, port, water, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the plums are soft but still hold their shape, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the plums to a bowl with a slotted spoon, remove the spices, and cover to keep warm. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook the remaining liquid until thick and syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• To serve, put a crepe on each of 4 dessert plates. Put a spoonful of plums on one quarter of each crepe. Then, fold the crepe over the filling to create a triangle shape. (The crepes can also be served folded in half like an omelet, or rolled.) Top each filled crepe with a dollop of whipped cream, then drizzle the warm port syrup over the top of each.

FIGS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PORT SYRUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the port and honey up to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer slowly until reduced by half.
• Set aside and cool to room temperature, the syrup will thicken upon standing.
• Cut the goat cheese into 8 equal pieces, about 2 teaspoon each and roll each piece into a ball.
• Place the figs upright and carefully make four cross cuts, slicing each fig into eight sections, BEING CAREFUL NOT TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
• Gently separate the figs outward to form a "flower"
• Place a ball of goat cheese in the center of each fig and drizzle with the port syrup.
• Garnish with walnuts.

PEARS IN PORT WITH MERINGUE CREAM

Steps:

• Pour the port into a large pan with 600ml water, add the sugar and cinnamon, then heat until the sugar dissolves. Add the pears, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 20-30 mins until tender all the way through. They are ready when a cocktail stick can be easily pushed through each one. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to cook the pears in 2 batches using the same port syrup, or turn the pears several times as they cook so they become an even colour. Let the pears cool in their syrup, preferably overnight to allow the syrup to really stain them. Will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
• Check the consistency of the syrup. If it is very thin, boil it in a pan to reduce the amount and concentrate the flavour.
• To serve, whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla until it holds its shape, then fold in the meringue. Sprinkle with the cinnamon. Arrange the pears in a shallow dish and spoon over the syrup. Allow guests to help themselves to both pears and cream.

PORT SYRUP

Steps:

• Stir together all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is very hot.
• Pour the syrup into a container with a lid and allow it to cool to room temperature before covering and storing in the refrigerator.