Description
Delight in these elegant Baked Pears with Feta, Honey, and Cranberries—a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. This easy 30-minute recipe combines tender baked pears with creamy feta cheese, tart dried cranberries, and a drizzle of honey, enhanced with fresh thyme and optional crunchy walnuts. Ideal as a sophisticated appetizer or a light dessert for four servings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pears
- 4 ripe but firm pears, halved and cored
Filling
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
Toppings and Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Chopped walnuts for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pears perfectly.
- Prepare the pears: Halve each pear and carefully scoop out the cores to create a well in the center of each half, making space for the filling.
- Arrange and fill pears: Place the pear halves cut-side up in a baking dish. Drizzle them evenly with olive oil, then fill the wells with crumbled feta cheese and chopped dried cranberries.
- Bake the pears: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the pears become tender and the feta cheese begins to melt and slightly brown.
- Finish and season: Remove the pears from the oven, drizzle each with honey, and sprinkle fresh thyme leaves on top. Add salt and pepper according to taste.
- Optional garnish: For extra texture and flavor, sprinkle chopped walnuts over the pears before serving.
Notes
- Choose pears that are ripe but firm to ensure they hold their shape during baking.
- Feel free to substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different crunch.
- This dish can be served warm as an appetizer or slightly chilled as a dessert.
- To make it vegetarian-friendly but not vegan, keep the feta; for a vegan version, replace feta with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Adjust honey amount to suit your preferred level of sweetness.
