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Sunday, October 22, 2023

Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Vinegar and Toasted Walnuts

Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Vinegar, and Toasted Walnuts is a delicious way to start a festive meal. And what a perfect time to enjoy this, because right now pears are at their prime in the marketplace. Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Vinegar, and Toasted Walnuts is light, fresh and a perfect starter to serve to family and friends. 

 

Festive meals can be more of a challenge in fall and winter, but they don't have to be!

Fall and winter can offer challenges for festive cooking, depending upon where you live. Your marketplace may be filled to the brim with delicious foods from all over. Or if you live in a more rural community, you may find your selection is a bit more limited. We are rural, yet just outside of a larger community. 

Because we try to eat the season, it is a challenge we are familiar with as well. Our market is fairly well stocked but with limited organic produce. We do have access to a large well stocked market about an hour away. But we have frequently lived where produce was not as plentiful as we would prefer. And to be honest, that is when I have called upon more creativity in the kitchen.

Especially when volunteering in remote parks for the National Park System. 

While volunteering we often found ourselves with a two hour's drive to the nearest market, only to find a very limited selection. The upside to a limited selection? You really will use that package of creativity, and hopefully have fun in the process! But the one thing I have found through the years, in just about every marketplace is pears. Which was the inspiration for this delicious and so easy to make starter. Once you source out the pears and possibly the Gorgonzola cheese everything else can be found in your own well-stocked pantry! 

What if I am not a Balsamic Vinegar fan? 

If you are not a Balsamic vinegar fan, feel free to use your favorite mild red wine vinegar. But don't leave the vinegar drizzle out. Because a touch of vinegar will give just the right amount of tangy flavor to highlight and contrast with the sweet juicy pear and the salty Gorgonzola. As written our recipe for Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Vinegar and Toasted Walnuts serves 2, but you can easily multiply it to serve everyone their own starter. And what a great way to treat those around your table!


Some additional thoughts on this recipe:

This starter is best made fresh. I do not recommend making it in advance. 

You can save a few moments by preparing the Gorgonzola cheese mixture, and keep it covered in the refrigerator. 

As well as toasting the walnuts. Let cool, and set aside until ready to serve.

And don't forget the parsley, it can be washed and wrapped in paper or cloth toweling and held in the refrigerator until needed. 


Ingredients needed for this recipe:
  • firm yet fully ripe pears
  • Gorgonzola Cheese
  • Olive Oil
  • Balsamic Vinegar
  • Toasted Walnuts
  • Italian Parsley
You will also need the following:
  • kitchen knife
  • cutting board
  • serving plates
Now you are ready to begin!


Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Vinegar and Toasted Walnuts.

Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Vinegar and Toasted Walnuts
by the seat of my pants!
UPDATED: 10.23.2023

1 firm yet fully ripe Pear, do not peel
scant 1/4 c Gorgonzola cheese
scant T olive oil
scant T Balsamic vinegar
scant 1/4 c toasted walnut halves
Italian Parsley, if desired




In a small bowl, mash the Gorgonzola cheese together with the olive oil, to a chunky mass. 

Cut the pear in half, remove stem and core, while leaving the pear half intact, place each pear half on individual serving plates.

Divide the Gorgonzola mixture between the pear halves. 

Drizzle each with the Balsamic vinegar and arrange the toasted walnuts over and around the pear half. 

Add a sprig of Italian Parsley, if desired. 

Storage options for Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic vinegar and Toasted Walnuts. For any leftovers, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. You will notice some color and texture changes when stored. This recipe is best made fresh and should not be frozen. 

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola Balsamic Vinegar and Toasted Walnuts has been included below.  


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Printable "copy and paste" version:


Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic Vinegar and Toasted Walnuts
by the seat of my pants!
UPDATED: 10.23.2023

1 firm yet fully ripe Pear, do not peel
scant 1/4 c Gorgonzola cheese
scant T olive oil
scant T Balsamic vinegar
scant 1/4 c toasted walnut halves
Italian Parsley, if desired

In a small bowl, mash the Gorgonzola cheese together with the olive oil, to a chunky mass. 

Cut the pear in half, remove stem and core, while leaving the pear half intact, place each pear half on individual serving plates.

Divide the Gorgonzola mixture between the pear halves. 

Drizzle each with the Balsamic vinegar and arrange the toasted walnuts over and around the pear half. 

Add a sprig of Italian Parsley, if desired. 

Storage options for Fresh Pear with Gorgonzola, Balsamic vinegar and Toasted Walnuts. For any leftovers, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. You will notice some color and texture changes when stored. This recipe is best made fresh and should not be frozen. 

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Would you like to comment?

  1. Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy this as much as we do, thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Gorgonzola , pear, and walnuts sounds like an amazing combination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is quite good, we don't serve a starter often, but this one we enjoy! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it. Have a great week ahead.

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  3. This looks like an excellent starter for our Christmas meal! Happy Holidays to you and yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Happy Holidays to you and yours as well! Have a great week ahead.

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  4. That's a great starter, Beautiful and delicious

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Have a great week ahead, and thanks for stopping by.

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  5. Wow. This sounds so, so good. I have pears on my curbside pickup for next week, and now I'm hoping I can add the cheese.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this would pair nicely with a crisp wine as part of a starter course...have a great week ahead and thanks for stopping by!

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  6. What an elegant dish! I think it would be delicious with a steak dinner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A wonderful idea, thanks for stopping by! Have a great week ahead.

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  7. Looks delicious! I love fresh pears!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you give this starter a try! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it! Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. Thank you and thanks for stopping by. Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  9. This sounds like an awesome combo. Happy holidays! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a very special treat, it looks delicious! Hope you had a great Christmas and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,516. We hope to see you back here again soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  11. These pears look so elegant!
    Just beautiful.
    Thank you for sharing at the Homestead Blog Hop!

    Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh yeah. I need this . Thanks for the inspiration. It feels like the perfect lunch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Michele, it is quite delicious, and would make a great lunch! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

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  13. Replies
    1. Thank you, the best part is how easy it is to make! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

      Delete
  14. Sounds lovely! Pinning. :) Visiting from Tell it To Me Tuesday (I'd love to have you share this at my linkup as well, if you're interested: https://lifetalesbooks.blogspot.com/p/calling-fellow-bloggers.html)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer thanks so much. I have shared and added your link party to my page as well as now following. Have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  15. The flavor profile is so inviting! Sounds so super tasty

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm so glad you shared this post on the Will Blog for Comments #12 linkup, and thrilled that you followed and added it to your page! Looking forward to seeing you often. :)

    ReplyDelete

Comments always appreciated, at Scratch Made Food! Thank you for stopping by!