Blue Cheese Stuffed Pears (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
01 -
3 big Comice pears.
02 -
3 sprigs of fresh thyme, stems removed and leaves only.
03 -
A pinch of flaky sea salt for sprinkles.
04 -
Around 30 grams of Fourme d'Ambert cheese, crumbled.
05 -
1/3 cup of finely chopped hazelnuts.
06 -
1 to 2 teaspoons high-quality olive oil.
07 -
1/2 teaspoon Espelette pepper.
08 -
1 or 2 tablespoons of pure honey.
# Instructions:
01 -
Set your oven to warm up to 200°C (or 400°F) to get it ready for the baking process.
02 -
Slice each pear in half lengthways and carefully scoop out the seeds and core to form small hollow areas. Lay them flat with the cut side facing up in a baking pan or cast iron dish.
03 -
Trickle a bit of olive oil over the pears and season lightly with salt and pepper for extra taste. Flip them so they sit cut side down in the cast iron skillet.
04 -
Pop the skillet into the oven and let the pears bake for about 15 minutes until they're soft and fragrant.
05 -
Carefully remove the pears from the oven and turn them over so the hollow side is now facing upwards. Load the centers with crumbled cheese, chopped hazelnuts, and thyme leaves.
06 -
Place the skillet back in the oven and let it bake for another 8–10 minutes, just enough for the cheese to melt and blend with the nuts and thyme.
07 -
In a tiny bowl, blend together honey and Espelette pepper until the mixture is smooth and coats the spoon well. This will be your simple sauce.
08 -
When the pears are golden and the aroma is irresistible, transfer them gently to plates or a serving dish. Drizzle each pear with the peppery honey mixture and finish with flaky salt and more thyme if you'd like. Time to dig in!
# Notes:
01 -
You can eat these stuffed pears while they're warm or after they've cooled to room temperature, which makes them ideal for casual meals or parties.
02 -
Adjust the honey and pepper amounts depending on how sweet or spicy you like it—feel free to play with the flavors!