With the first sunny days we start craving lighter food. We know some people live on salads only, but that’s definitely not us. For few days I was thinking about something fruity and tangy for a change, so I can serve it alongside the fresh lettuce, spinach and nettle. So, when I saw firm, juicy pears I decided to grab them without being sure what to use them for.
I searched for a suitable recipe and that’s how I stumbled upon these pear pies – and they seemed to be just what I wanted. They can be easily prepared even if you’re a beginner in the kitchen. They go very well with a glass of white wine, and are as delicious warm, as cooled, making them perfect even for your picnic basket or
Serves: 3 (for dinner), 6 (for starter)
Preparation and baking time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients:
For the pies:
3 medium sized, firm pears
half lemon, juice only
200g ready made puff pastry, thawed
2-3 tbsp milk
For the filling:
150-200g Fontina, finely grated*
80-100g blue cheese
1 tbsp brandy
50g walnuts, crushed
*If you can’t find Fontina where you live (or you don’t like it) substitute for any semi-soft, rich and buttery cheese, like Emmental or Gruyere.
Method:
Peel the pears, cut them in halves and remove the seeds (leaving the stem). Scrape of the interior using a teaspoon, in order to form a wider notch to fill later. Save the carved pulp. Brush the pears with lemon juice from inside and outside.
Line a baking pan with parchment paper or silpat and arrange the pear halves, cavities facing down.
From the well thawed puff pastry cut 6 rectangles, just a bit larger than the pears. Cover every pear with a piece of pastry and using a sharp knife cut the excess, leaving a well covered fruit. Well, this may sound a bit tricky, but it is easier to make, than to describe. Pierce here and there with a sharp knife and brush with milk.
From the puff pastry trimmings cut leaves and “clue” them with the milk.
Bake in preheated oven (200°С/400°F) for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Take of the oven and leave to cool in the pan for few minutes.
While the pies are baking prepare the filling – mix the finely grated cheeses with the brandy and the pureed pear pulp. Add half of the walnuts and stir until well combined. Leave aside.
When the pies are slightly cooled, remove from the baking pan (you may need to use tongs) and arrange over large serving dish. Fill the cavity with the filling, sprinkle with the rest of the walnuts and serve.
Original and tasty, I’m sure. A great simple idea!
What can you use besides brandy in this recipe so I can serve it to my grandkids.
Hi, Elizabeth! You can just skip the brandy here -it is used only to enhance the flavours of the filling.
Hope your grandkids like these mini pies!
It is a tbsp of brandy. That will be cooked out of it. It is fine to serve to anyone. It is for flavor purposes.
do you have the nutritional values for this recipe? Fat, Carb, Fiber and Protein? Counting points on ww and this looks so good!
Hi, Mary! I’m sorry, but I don’t have nutritional values for this, or for any other of our recipes.
Mary, try using the Recipe Builder if you use WW Online.
[...] a complex mushroom-y flavor. A drizzle of truffle oil on top sends it over the edge.TREAT YO SELF: Mini Pies with Pears and Blue Cheese. Too flippin cute. What a brilliant idea to mold the pastry crust to the pear halves. I would love [...]
Do these need to be served warm or can they be made a couple of hours ahead?
Thinking about trying apples this way too.
looks great. will use for party
These look amazing! Pinning!
<3 Christina at I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original linky party is open
are the pears hard after cooking, i am thinking about poaching then chilling to ensure a soft pear once the baking is done. turning into a dessert and poaching in simple syrup and adding cinnamon. Topping with ice cream and a vanilla bean for garnish.
I made these with regular pie crust. I sprinkled a mixture of cinnamon & sugar before the crust. When done I sprinkled again with cinnamon & sugar (lightly) & served with vanilla ice cream! They were an awesome easy desert for hubby & I! Thanks a bunch!
[...] 4 perfectly personal pear pies? [...]
[...] feeding my Pinterest addiction the other day I came across a lovely recipe for Pear Pies. This unique recipe used pear halves wrapped in puff pastry and then filled with a blue cheese [...]
this is genius and super cute. I love the recipe and am totally going to use it next time I throw a party! I think I’ll do it with peaches in the summertime.
Is there anything I need to know if I use apples? And which apples to use? Thank you.
I left out the cheese/brandy filling and sprinkled with cinnamon. My grandkids LOVED THEM.
[...] Mini Pies mit Birnen und Käse [...]
una idea maravillosa, creo que hoy las haré.
[...] up, we have an easy peasy lemon squeezy recipe! I give you Mini Pie Pears from Share My Kitchen! This is so easy and super adorable. I made these for my family when Ding Jing came to visit last [...]
The best for Pi Day!
[...] Recipe and Instructions Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: pear pies recipe, pictures and recipes, pictures of recipes, recipes in pictures, recipes pictures, recipes with pictures [...]