'Tis the season for sweet juicy pears, and I like nothing better than to pair them with something salty. They are a natural on a cheese platter, the delicate wedges a perfect counterpoint to creamy-salty cheese, and they are also great friends with all sorts of toasted nuts and even thin slices of charcuterie, like prosciutto or speck.
This appetizer is not only simple to make, but it’s easy to make a lot or a little. Just use the recipe below as a guide and prepare what you need—a little or a lot—for your holiday party or celebration.
To give you an idea of how to scale for the amount you need, each pear will yield about 10 to 12 slices, and you’ll need about 1 tsp of crumbled cheese for each slice of pear, plus a slice of prosciutto can be cut into 2 to 3 lengthwise slices and you need only one lengthwise slice per slice of pear. So, for every 1 pear, you need 10 to 12 tsp cheese and 4 to 6 slices prosciutto.
They are best made just before the festivities begin, but the addition of lemon juice on the pears will keep them from oxidizing too quickly. You can make them up to an hour or so before the party and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Pears with Gorgonzola
Makes as many as you want!
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Ingredients:
- Ripe, fragrant pear(s)
- A lemon
- Crumbled blue cheese, such as Gorgonzola
- Thin slices prosciutto, halved lengthwise
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Instructions:
- Quarter the pears and cut out the core with a paring knife. Slice each quarter into 1/2-inch wedges (you should get 10 to 12 slices from each pear, depending on the size of the pear). Sprinkle the pear slices with a little lemon juice to keep them from oxidizing.
- On each pear slice, press 1 tsp of blue cheese into a pile. Take 1 piece of prosciutto and wrap it around each pear slice, enclosing the blue cheese.
- Transfer to a platter and serve, or cover and refrigerate for up to 6 hours. Let come to room temperature before serving.
