Description
Sweet and savory Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears baked to perfection, combining the sweetness of Bosc pears with tangy Danish blue cheese, crunchy walnuts, and fragrant thyme, finished with a drizzle of honey and a touch of Aleppo pepper for a delightful appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 3 large Bosc pears
Cheese and Nuts
- 2 1/2 oz blue cheese (Danish blue cheese, crumbled)
- 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
Herbs and Spices
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme, removed from the stem
- 1/2 tsp Aleppo pepper, for garnish
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Other Ingredients
- 1–2 tsp olive oil
- 1–2 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 400℉ to prepare for baking the pears.
- Prepare the pears: Slice the Bosc pears in half lengthwise and carefully remove the core and seeds. Place them in a cast iron skillet or baking dish cut side up. Drizzle with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Then, turn the pears cut side down.
- Bake the pears initially: Transfer the skillet or baking dish to the oven and bake the pears cut side down for 15 minutes to soften them.
- Stuff the pears: Remove the pears from the oven, turn them cut side up, then stuff each half with crumbled blue cheese, chopped walnuts, and fresh thyme leaves.
- Bake again: Place the stuffed pears back into the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the blue cheese has melted slightly and the pears are tender.
- Prepare honey and pepper drizzle: While the pears bake, mix honey with Aleppo pepper in a small bowl to create a sweet and mildly spicy drizzle.
- Serve and garnish: Once cooked, transfer the pears to a serving platter or individual plates. Drizzle with the honey and Aleppo pepper mixture, garnish with extra thyme sprigs if desired, and enjoy.
Notes
- Use Bosc pears for their firm texture that holds up well during baking.
- Substitute walnuts with pecans or toasted pine nuts for a different crunch.
- Aleppo pepper adds mild heat and depth; if unavailable, use a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Serving warm enhances the contrast between the melted cheese and sweet pear.
- For a vegetarian version, ensure the blue cheese is made without animal rennet.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pear half
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
