Description
Rustic elegance meets sweet sophistication in this walnut blue cheese honey pears recipe. Crisp pears nestled with creamy blue cheese and crunchy walnuts create a delightful Mediterranean-inspired appetizer you can savor with pure culinary pleasure.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 large pears, ripe but firm, halved and cored
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
Liquid/Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
Garnish/Spice Ingredients:
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 375°F (190°C), ensuring an optimal roasting temperature for the pears.
- Gently coat pear halves with olive oil, creating a protective layer that enhances caramelization and prevents sticking.
- Position pear halves facing upward on a clean baking sheet, allowing even heat distribution.
- Roast the pears for approximately 20 minutes, monitoring their transformation until they become tender yet maintain structural integrity.
- Carefully remove the baking sheet and generously scatter chopped walnuts and crumbled blue cheese across each pear half.
- Return the pears to the oven for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the cheese to soften and integrate with the nuts.
- Extract the pears from the oven and immediately drizzle with golden honey, creating a luxurious glaze.
- Enhance the flavor profile by sprinkling freshly ground black pepper and optionally garnishing with delicate thyme leaves.
- Serve immediately to capture the exquisite blend of warm, sweet, and savory elements at their peak deliciousness.
Notes
- Swap pears for apples or stone fruits to create delightful variations that match seasonal availability and personal taste preferences.
- Use soft goat cheese instead of blue cheese for a milder flavor profile that accommodates sensitive palates or those who find blue cheese too strong.
- Toast walnuts beforehand to intensify their nutty essence and provide a deeper, more complex crunch that elevates the overall texture of the dish.
- Select ripe but firm pears to ensure they maintain structural integrity during roasting and don’t become mushy or fall apart during cooking process.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 394
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 206mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 10mg