- 6 small firm but ripe Anjou pears, peeled
- 3 1/2 cups sweet white or red wine (such as Moscato)
- 2 cups pear nectar
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot
- 1/2 cup chopped kiwi fruit
- 1/2 cup chopped peeled seeded cantaloupe
- 1/2 cup quartered hulled strawberries
- Fresh mint sprigs
- Using melon baller, remove core from bottom end of pears. Combine wine, pear nectar and cinnamon stick in large pot. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer. Add pears (liquid should cover pears halfway). Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until pears are tender, about 10 minutes, turning pears halfway through. Transfer pears and cooking liquid to large bowl. Cool completely.
- Drain poaching liquid back into pot. Mix 2 tablespoons liquid with arrowroot in small bowl; return to pot. Boil until sauce thickens and is reduced to 2 cups, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Cool sauce to room temperature. (Pears and sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
- Spoon sauce into 6 shallow bowls. Place pears atop sauce. Sprinkle kiwi, cantaloupe and strawberries around pears. Garnish with mint and serve.