This is one of the easiest appetizers and the perfect starter for a fall dinner party. Who can resist the delectable combination of the savory-salty blue cheese with the sublime sweetness of the ripe pears and honey?
INGREDIENTS:
3 large Bosc pears, cut in half lengthwise, remove seeds and core with melon baller
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
3 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (use a mild blue cheese or Gorgonzola)
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed from stem
2 tablespoons honey or hot honey
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, if desired
Maldon salt, for finishing
Additional thyme sprigs
METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 400°.
In a heavy baking pan or skillet, place the pears cut side up. Drizzle olive oil over the pears and season lightly with salt and pepper. Turn the pears over, cut-side down.
Bake pears for 15 minutes. Remove the pears from the oven and turn them over to cut-side up. Fill the centers with the blue cheese, walnuts, and thyme.
Place the pears back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Combine the honey with red pepper flakes pepper (if using) in a small bowl.
Transfer baked pears to a serving platter and drizzle with honey. Finish with a light pinch of flaky salt and additional thyme sprigs.
