Elegant enough for the first course of a dinner party – but easy enough for a weeknight side dish – these roasted pears stuffed with dried cranberries, walnuts, and goat cheese are a healthy and tasty way to top a bed of lightly dressed greens.
Pears are a wonderful fruit to roast because they become tender without losing their shape. The hollowed-out pear halves become the perfect vessel for any combination of dried fruit, nuts, and cheese that your heart desires.
I suggest roasting extra pears and enjoying them for lunch the next day!
| Name: | Roasted Stuffed Pears |
|---|---|
| Cuisine: | Fusion |
| Prep Time: | 15 minutes |
| Cooking Time: | 30 minutes |
| Total Time: | 45 minutes |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 4 stuffed pears |
Ingredients
- 1 ripe but firm Anjou pear
- 1 Tbsp dried cranberries
- 1 Tbsp chopped toasted walnuts
- 1 Tbsp crumbled goat cheese
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
Instructions
1. Preheat Your Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Pears
Wash the pears and cut off the tops. Slice a small piece from the bottom of each pear to make them stand upright. Use a melon baller or a small spoon to carefully remove the core and seeds, creating a hollow cavity in each pear. Be sure not to scoop all the way through.
3. Make the Stuffing
In a bowl, mix the chopped nuts, dried cranberries or raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Drizzle the melted butter over the mixture and stir until it’s well combined.
4. Stuff the Pears
Gently stuff each pear with the prepared mixture, packing it lightly to fill the cavity.
5. Roast the Pears
Place the stuffed pears in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle honey over each pear for a sweet glaze. Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the pears are tender when pierced with a fork.
6. Serve and Enjoy
Once roasted, let the pears cool slightly before serving. You can serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra treat.
Nutrition Per Serving
Calories: 260 calories
Protein: 2 grams
Carbohydrates: 46 grams
Dietary Fiber: 5 grams
Sugars: 35 grams
Fat: 10 grams
Saturated Fat: 4 grams
Cholesterol: 15 milligrams
Sodium: 60 milligrams
Potassium: 230 milligrams
Vitamin C: 6% of the Daily Value
Calcium: 4% of the Daily Value
Iron: 2% of the Daily Value
Please note that these are approximate values and can vary based on factors such as the size of the pears and the specific brands of ingredients used. Additionally, the values do not include optional toppings like vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375*F.
- Peel the pear and slice it lengthwise in half. With a melon baller or small spoon, scoop out the core and seeds, leaving an indentation for the stuffing. Place pear halves in a baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together the dried cranberries, walnuts, and goat cheese. Divide the stuffing mixture evenly among the pear halves, mounding it on top of the indentation.
- In the bowl, whisk together the apple cider and maple syrup. Pour mixture over and around the pears. Bake for 30 minutes, occasionally basting the pears with the cider mixture. Serve warm or at room temperature on a bed of greens, dressed with the cider mixture.
