Bite into a pear at the perfect moment of ripeness, and you’ll understand why Homer, in his epic poem The Odyssey, called it a “gift from the gods.”
Ingredients
Preparation
HEALTH BENEFITS
Step 1
You’d never guess it from the buttery texture, but pears deliver 6 grams of fiber—almost a quarter of the adult daily requirement. The skin contains mostly insoluble fiber, which promotes healthy digestion, while the flesh’s soluble fiber, including pectin, helps satiety and blood sugar regulation. Thanks to pectin’s well-established ability to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, snacking regularly on pears can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The pear’s other significant nutrients include vitamin C and potassium.
HOW TO BUY
Step 2
Among the thousands of varieties of pears, just a few, including Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou, are typically carried in supermarkets. (Seek out other types at farmers’ markets and specialty stores.) Most pears ripen best off the tree and are picked while mature but firm. Likewise, choose firm fruit at the store; it will ripen in a few days.
HOW TO STORE
Step 3
Encourage ripening by storing pears in a paper—not plastic—bag at room temperature for a day or two. Pears are ripe when the flesh near the stem end yields slightly. Because these delicate fruits ripen from the inside out, very soft outer flesh means a pear is past its prime.
PREPARATION TIP
Step 4
Poached, sautéed, baked, and even grilled, pears complement savory foods such as cheeses, nuts, and meats, particularly chicken and pork. Choose slightly underripe, firm pears for cooking. Anjou and Bosc hold their shape well. To core a pear quickly and easily, use a melon baller.
DID YOU KNOW?
Step 5
With their globe shape and crunchy texture, Asian pears may resemble apples, but they are true pears—not an apple-pear hybrid, as many believe. Asian varieties boast the same basic nutritional value as their European counterparts. Unlike the Western species, though, they ripen on the tree, so eat them soon after you buy them.
recipes
Step 6
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pear and Shallots p.278
Step 7
Chocolate-Dipped Pears p.335
Step 8
Oven-Dried Fruit with Chocolate and Toasted Almonds p.339
