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Roasted Pears with Cranberries, Blue Cheese and Walnuts
5 from 9 votes

Roasted Pears with Cranberries, Blue Cheese and Walnuts

Roasted Pears with cranberries, blue cheese and walnuts served over a bed of fresh arugula is a simple yet impressive recipe.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 283 kcal
Course: Side Dish, Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 3 pear peeled and sliced lengthwise into halves, ripe, D'Anjou
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice divided, freshly squeezed
  • 3 ounces blue cheese crumbles
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup walnut halves toasted and chopped
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
  • 3 tablespoon port wine
  • 3 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 6 ounces arugula baby
  • kosher salt
  • black pepper freshly ground

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Using a paring knife and a melon baller, remove the core and seeds from each pear. Trim a small slice away from the rounded backside of each pear half so that they will sit in the baking dish without tipping over. Toss the pears with 1/4 cup lemon juice. Place pears, core side up, in baking dish that is just large enough to hold the pears snugly.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the blue cheese, cranberries and walnuts; toss to combine. Divide the mixture evenly among the pears, mounding it on top of the indentation.
  4. In the same small bowl, combine the cider, port, and brown sugar; stir to combine. Pour the mixture over and around the pears. Bake the pears for 30 minutes, or until tender. While baking, occasionally spoon some of the basting liquid over the pears. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk the olive oil, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup of the basting liquid. Add the arugula; toss well. Divide the arugula among 6 small plates and top each with a pear. Drizzle each pear with any excess basting liquid, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

Notes

  • Source: This recipe was slightly adapted from Back to Basics by Ina Garten
  • We love D'Anjou pears the best for this recipe because their texture is great for baking, but you can use another type of pear. 
  • If you can't find port wine, you can use a sweet red wine instead, such as Merlot, Shiraz or Chianti.
  • You can omit the blue cheese or substitute it for feta or goat cheese.

Nutrition Information

Serving 6g Calories 283kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 10mg (3%) Sodium 210mg (9%) Potassium 321mg (7%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 21g (42%) Vitamin A 805IU (16%) Vitamin C 16.1mg (18%) Calcium 138mg (14%) Iron 0.8mg (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 283

% Daily Value*

Serving 6g
Calories 283kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 10mg 3%
Sodium 210mg 9%
Potassium 321mg 7%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 21g 42%
Vitamin A 805IU 16%
Vitamin C 16.1mg 18%
Calcium 138mg 14%
Iron 0.8mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.