Description
Delight in the sweet and savory combination of baked pears topped with creamy feta, honey, and tart cranberries. This elegant yet simple dessert blends tender roasted pears with flavorful cheese, aromatic thyme, and a touch of crunch from walnuts, perfect for a light and sophisticated treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 ripe but firm pears, halved and cored
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Garnish
- Chopped walnuts for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure a hot environment for perfectly baked pears.
- Prepare Pears: Halve the pears and use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out the cores, creating a small cavity to hold the filling.
- Assemble Pears: Place the pear halves cut-side up in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, then generously fill each cavity with crumbled feta cheese and chopped dried cranberries.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the pears are tender and the feta begins to melt, melding the flavors together.
- Finish and Season: Remove the pears from the oven, drizzle with honey for sweetness, sprinkle fresh thyme leaves atop, and season lightly with salt and pepper to enhance all the flavors.
- Optional Garnish: For added texture and flavor, sprinkle chopped walnuts over the baked pears before serving.
Notes
- Choose pears that are ripe but firm to ensure they hold their shape during baking.
- If fresh thyme is unavailable, dried thyme can be used but reduce the quantity to about 1/2 teaspoon.
- For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts garnish.
- This dessert can be served warm or at room temperature.
- For a vegan adaptation, substitute feta with a plant-based cheese and use maple syrup instead of honey.
