Pear with Toasted Walnuts

It's been a while since I've made dessert using fruit, so when I saw this recipe from Summer Tomato a while back, I thought I would give it a try. The pears I needed to use up also helped. :) I didn't have the Bosc pears she called for, so I used D'Anjou instead. This recipe is really quite simple and straightforward. The only thing to be aware of when making this dessert is not to put your face directly over the reducing balsamic vinegar - or you'll get a nice dose of acetic acid. That, and don't burn your walnuts. This recipe will create a savory dessert that perfectly combines sweet flavors from the pear (fruity sweet), balsamic vinegar (tangy sweet), and cinnamon (spicy sweet) with the nutty flavor of toasted walnuts. (Does that even make sense?) Each aspect brings a different type of sweetness to the table, an combined together, the complexity of flavors forms a dessert you're just got to experience for yourself! This is a quick dessert that only seems like it took a long time to make. Serve it at parties and wow your guests! (Use the oven instead of the stove for quick scale-up.) This dessert was good enough to eat on its own, but you could also try it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! I know this recipe doesn't call for any additional sugar, but trust me, you don't need it. I was initially skeptical too - would it taste good as a dessert without any added sugar? It does, I promise.


Pear with Toasted Walnuts (printable version)
A savory dessert contrasting aromatic, sweet pears with fragrant, tangy balsamic vinegar, topped with the smoky and nutty flavor of toasted walnuts

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Yield: 1-2 servings

Materials:

• 1 pear, cored
• cinnamon, powdered
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon butter (optional)

Methods:

1. Reduce balsamic vinegar by gently heating and swirling. When it's ready, it should coat the back of a spoon and taste pleasant.
2. While reducing, cut pear into about 8-10 slices.
3. Toast walnuts.
4. Cook pears about 3-5 minutes on each side, until desired level of tenderness reached.
5. Place pears on a plate, sprinkle on chopped walnuts, drizzle with balsamic vinegar reduction, and top with a few dashes of cinnamon.
6. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Leave a comment telling us about your favorite fruity dessert!