Description
Elegant Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears are a sophisticated and easy-to-make appetizer or dessert featuring ripe pears filled with a savory mixture of blue cheese, walnuts, and honey. Baked until tender and topped with fresh parsley, these pears offer a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and nutty flavors, ideal for any special occasion or dinner party.
Ingredients
Scale
Pears
- 4 ripe pears (Bartlett or Anjou)
Filling
- 1 cup blue cheese (crumbled)
- ½ cup walnuts (chopped)
- ¼ cup honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Finishing Touches
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Pears: Wash and halve the pears lengthwise. Use a melon baller or spoon to carefully remove the core and seeds, creating a cavity large enough to hold the filling.
- Mix Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the crumbled blue cheese, chopped walnuts, honey, salt, and pepper. Stir until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and well combined.
- Stuff Pears: Generously fill each pear half with the blue cheese and walnut mixture, pressing it down gently to ensure the filling stays in place during baking.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the stuffed pears.
- Drizzle Olive Oil: Arrange the stuffed pear halves on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then drizzle them evenly with olive oil to add flavor and help with browning.
- Bake Pears: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the pears become tender and the blue cheese filling is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pears from the oven and allow them to cool slightly. Drizzle additional honey on top if desired and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley for a beautiful presentation. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Choose ripe but firm pears to ensure they hold their shape during baking.
- For a nuttier flavor, toast the walnuts lightly before chopping.
- Blue cheese varieties vary in saltiness and tang, so adjust the seasoning accordingly.
- These stuffed pears can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- Serve as an elegant appetizer or a decadent dessert paired with a glass of dessert wine or light white wine.
