Pickled Pears & Cheese Platter
This recipe combines the sweet and tangy flavors of simmered pears with a hint of spices, perfect for a festive holiday gathering. The pears are gently cooked in a flavorful mixture of perry vinegar, sugar, and spices until tender, then served with a selection of cheese and toasted nutty bread. This dish is a delightful addition to your Christmas table, offering a unique and elegant appetizer or light meal option that is sure to impress your guests.
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 500ml perry or cider vinegar
- 250g golden caster sugar
- 1 tbsp pink peppercorns
- 1 tbsp white or yellow mustard seeds
- 10 cloves
- 8 small firm-ish pears
- large loaf of walnut or other nutty brown bread with a good crust
- good wedge (about 700g) of strong cheese, like Stilton or Stichelton or a firmish goat's cheese
- few winter salad leaves
Instructions
- Put the vinegar, sugar and spices into a large saucepan with 500ml of water. Heat gently to melt the sugar. Meanwhile, peel the pears, halve, then scoop out the core with a teaspoon or melon-baller. Add the pears to the pan, they should be just about covered with the liquid, then bring to a simmer for 25-30 mins. Test the pears with a tip of a knife – they should be just tender. Lift out with a slotted spoon and put into a large Kilner jar or a few smaller ones. Boil the liquid down to about 600ml, then pour over the pears to cover. Seal and store in the fridge for up to a week, before serving.
- On Christmas Day, remove the pears from the fridge so they come up to room temperature. To serve, thickly slice and toast the bread and slice the cheese into thin wedges. Lift the pears from the jar and layer up with the cheese on a large platter or board, then scatter with some leaves. Serve with the bread.
Cook Time
35M
Prep Time
PT20M
Yield
Serves 8
Nutrition
- Calories: 426 calories
- Fat Content: 31 grams fat
- Saturated Fat Content: 20 grams saturated fat
- Carbohydrate Content: 17 grams carbohydrates
- Sugar Content: 17 grams sugar
- Fiber Content: 2 grams fiber
- Protein Content: 21 grams protein
- Sodium Content: 1.76 milligram of sodium
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