pears – The Pear Dish https://usapears.org/blog A blog about our favorite fruit, USA Pears! Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:52:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25 Chiles en Nogada https://usapears.org/blog/chiles-en-nogada/ Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:52:57 +0000 https://usapears.org/blog/?p=5105 Mexico’s iconic Independence Day dish of poblano chiles stuffed with fresh and dried fruits, blanketed in creamy walnut sauce and dotted with glistening, jewel-like pomegranate seeds is a celebration of seasonality, color, and heritage. Many recipes call for multiple types of fruit in the filling, but this simplified version highlights fresh pears. Serves 6 Ingredients: Walnut Sauce 1 cup raw walnuts, coarsely chopped 1 cup sour cream 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature ½ cup milk, plus more as needed 2 tablespoons dry sherry wine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon Stuffed Chiles 12 large poblano chiles 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound ground pork ½ medium yellow onion, diced 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon Mexican (or regular) dried oregano ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground allspice 2 large ripe pears, such Continue reading →

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]]> An Easy Way to Smoke Pears https://usapears.org/blog/an-easy-way-to-smoke-pears/ Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:45:05 +0000 https://usapears.org/blog/?p=5099 Yes, you can smoke fruit! There are a variety of methods for smoking foods, from using a dedicated outdoor hot smoker, to DIY cold smoking in your oven, but this technique for infusing pears with smoky flavor is as easy as they come. All you need is a charcoal grill, wood chips, and a disposable aluminum pan—no special equipment required and no risk of setting off the smoke alarm in your kitchen. The truly exceptional thing about this technique is that you don’t even have to get the grill out just to smoke the pears since the pears are added to the grill after it’s used to cook something else, when the coals turn to embers. So while your family enjoys a late-summer meal on the patio, the residual heat still emitting from the grill is just enough to delicately Continue reading →

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]]> 5 Recipes to Pear Up For Better Breakfast Month https://usapears.org/blog/5-recipes-to-pear-up-for-better-breakfast-month/ Wed, 05 Sep 2018 13:22:58 +0000 https://usapears.org/blog/?p=5090 September is Better Breakfast Month, which means it’s the perfect time to make eating a healthy breakfast a priority in your daily routine. This month also happens to be when sweet and juicy Northwest pears are in season and available at grocery stores everywhere. One medium-sized pear contains 6 grams of fiber and only 100 calories, so it will keep you full without loading you with sugar and fat. Besides being nutritious, pears are incredibly versatile as an ingredient and this is especially true when it comes to whipping up a wholesome breakfast! From oatmeal to smoothies, pears are a delicious way to step up your game for Better Breakfast Month. 1. Instant Pot Pear Oatmeal Jars The Instant Pot, that magical cooking appliance that allows you to do everything from sautéing to pressure-cooking, is all the rage right now. Continue reading →

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]]> Pear Pasta Salad https://usapears.org/blog/pear-pasta-salad/ Mon, 16 Jul 2018 17:20:22 +0000 https://usapears.org/blog/?p=5086 Potlucks and picnics are upon us! This portable pear recipe adds a sweet twist to the perennial favorite: pasta salad. With a flavor-packed combination of just-ripe USA Pears complemented by salty salami, tart pickled peppers, fresh mozzarella, and crunchy cucumbers, it’s sure to surpass any pre-made offering you’d find at the deli counter. Plus, a lightened-up version of the classic creamy dressing, substituting Greek yogurt for mayonnaise, makes for a healthier summer feast. Serves 8 to 10 Ingredients: Dressing 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 cloves garlic, minced 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano Salad 1 pound dried short pasta, such as fusilli, rotini, or farfalle 2 firm but ripe red USA pears, cut into bite Continue reading →

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]]> Pear Kimchi https://usapears.org/blog/pear-kimchi/ Fri, 11 May 2018 15:00:51 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=5044 Sweet pears and spicy flavors make for a winning combination. Kimchi, the mainstay of every Korean table, has been gaining mass appeal in recent years. Prized for its health benefits and irresistible spiciness, kimchi is becoming a staple condiment in many homes. If you’ve never made your own, then this version, featuring pears and crunchy root vegetables, is a great place to start. This is a quick kimchi recipe, meant to enjoy immediately. Serve it alongside a simple roast pork with steamed rice and sautéed greens, add it to a vegan grain bowl, place it atop ramen noodles or in lettuce wraps—you’ll find that the ways to enjoy fresh kimchi are endless. Makes 8 to 10 servings Ingredients:  2 large white root vegetables, such as kohlrabi or turnips 2 large slightly underripe USA Pears 1/4 cup kosher salt 1/4 cup Continue reading →

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]]> 5 Hearty Pear Soups to Warm Your Winter https://usapears.org/blog/5-hearty-pear-soups-warm-winter/ Tue, 16 Jan 2018 19:24:12 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4932 Few things warm the body and soul like a bowl of soup in the wintertime. When it’s cold outside, soup can bring a sense of nourishment and comfort. The winter months also happen to be an ideal time to experiment in the kitchen since the frigid temperatures keep many of us inside. Pears may not be an ingredient that immediately comes to mind when you think of soup, but they can bring a unique flavor and texture to both sweet and savory soups. They’re also an excellent source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C, making them a nutritious and delicious ingredient. Whether sautéed with vegetables before stock is added, roasted and pureed to blend with stocks, or simply chopped and added to an already simmering broth, pears are a fun and tasty way to step up your Continue reading →

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]]> 12 Creative Ways to Poach a Pear https://usapears.org/blog/12-creative-ways-poach-pear/ Tue, 19 Dec 2017 15:13:28 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4903 How many ways can you poach a pear? There may not be a set answer when you consider that the pear-ssibilities are endless. The classic go-to seems to be red or white wine poached pears, which is definitely one of the prettiest and most decadent ways to poach. But when it comes to poaching, sometimes it’s worth it to think outside the pear box. Besides wine, pears can be poached in cider, bold and flavorful beers like stouts and Belgian ales, and even espresso, among other liquids. Restaurants love to impress diners with beautifully poached pear dishes because, besides being delicious, they are visually striking. Even though poached pears may look challenging to make, most recipes are easier than you might think. December is National Pear Month and the time of year when all ten varieties of Northwest pears are Continue reading →

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]]> Pear and Sausage Stuffing https://usapears.org/blog/pear-sausage-stuffing/ Fri, 17 Nov 2017 14:20:28 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4840 Whether you are a “stuffing” or a “dressing” kind of person, pears add a magical twist when served alongside your holiday bird. Because they are sautéed and then baked, the pears are meant to be meltingly soft in this side dish, and any variety will do. Sausage adds a piquant kick, and don’t skimp on those fresh herbs. Consider this recipe another delicious vehicle for getting pears on your Thanksgiving table. Serves 8 Ingredients: 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing and brushing 1 (20-ounce) loaf white bread, crusts trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage 1 sweet yellow onion, chopped 3 celery ribs, chopped 12 ounces mild Italian pork sausage (casings removed if the sausage is in links) 2 ripe USA Pears, stemmed, cored, and cut into Continue reading →

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]]> 3 Sweet Reasons to Choose Pears if You Have Diabetes https://usapears.org/blog/3-sweet-reasons-choose-pears-diabetes/ Tue, 14 Nov 2017 17:27:42 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4834 November is National Diabetes Month and it’s also a great time to find perfectly ripe pears, which comes in handy since pears have a lot of the attributes we recommend in a diet to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes. Pears are a low glycemic index (and low glycemic load) food – a medium-sized pear ranks 38 on the glycemic index – which means they have a mild effect on blood sugar levels. While there isn’t a cure for diabetes (yet!), we do know that food is a very powerful tool that can be used to reduce symptoms and improve overall quality of life. As registered dietitians, we see the power of food every day, and the research supports just how much of an effect food can have on reducing the impact of diabetes. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with type Continue reading →

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]]> Eating Seasonally https://usapears.org/blog/eating-seasonally/ Thu, 14 Sep 2017 00:16:16 +0000 http://blog.usapears.org/?p=4761 You may have heard mention of the importance of eating seasonally, but what does that mean and why does it matter? Eating produce when it is in season is not a new idea, in fact, it was the norm before industrialized agriculture and giant grocery stores. The general idea is that we eat foods when they are naturally harvested, such as berries in the summer and pears starting in the fall. The nutritional benefit is that seasonal fruits and vegetables tend to pack more nutrients and richer flavors than foods that should ripen before being harvested or during shipment. And in this way, seasonal foods tend to be cheaper and less damaging to the environment. An interesting fact about pears is that optimal ripening actually occurs after being harvested and cold storage, and therefore, they are available nearly year-round! So Continue reading →

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