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Whether you're in the mood for savory or sweet, opt for one of these pear-fect dishes.
By
Betty Gold
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Betty Gold
Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple.
Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on August 26, 2023
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Pear recipes—whether they're for breakfast, lunch, appetizers, dinner, or dessert—run the gamut from sweet to savory. The mild, sweet flavor of pears go well with everything from prosciutto and potatoes to camembert, cranberries, and cinnamon.
Read on to learn when to look for locally grown pears, tips for picking a pear that's ripe, and reasons you should eat pears. Next, look over our compilation of pear recipes that are perfect for fall—er...correction—any season.
Pear Season
Pears' peak season begins in late summer and continues through January, with 80 percent of the U.S. crop grown in the Pacific Northwest. Ten varieties are grown in overlapping seasons, making domestic pears available nearly year-round. With over 3000 types of pears grown worldwide, offseason imports are likely to come from New Zealand, Chile, and Australia.
Picking Pears
A pear's ideal color depends on its variety. The most popular ones in the U.S.—Green Anjou, Bartlett, and Bosc—come in varying shades of green, pinkish-red, and brown. They're best picked unripe and then ripen off the tree, similar to avocados, plums, and apricots.
You can't tell how ripe pears are just by looking, because they rarely change color as they mature. In the produce section, pears are almost always hard because they ripen from the inside out. Look for fruits without soft spots, bruises, or blemishes and then check for ripeness: Apply gentle pressure to the neck of the pear with your thumb and, if the pear feels soft to the touch, it's ripe.
Health Benefits
Like most fruits, pears are super nutritious. A medium pear, which equates to one serving of fruit, has only 100 calories yet packs antioxidants and flavonoids. According to the U.S.Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), pears are also an excellent source of fiber, and provide daily recommended values of 8 percent vitamin C and 4 percent potassium; all three of which the DGA identifies as under-consumed by Americans.
Recipes
From breakfast to dessert and everything in between, you're sure to find a recipe here that's just pear-fect.
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Maple, Pear, and Pecan Steel-Cut Oats
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Here, we redefine the term "overnight oats" to mean tossing steel cut oats in the slow cooker and letting them cook overnight. The result is a deliciously spiced, creamy oatmeal generously topped with fresh-cut pears and toasted pecans.
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02of 11
Pressed-Crust Pear Tart
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For this recipe, pear halves are set atop a dough that's hand-pressed into a tart pan, and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. After baking, the golden-brown tart is brushed with an apricot jam-and-lemon juice glaze for a sweet, shiny finish. As an extra indulgence, top with homemade whipped cream.
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03of 11
Balsamic Steak With Radicchio and Pears
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This gourmet, grown-up steak has slices of sweet pear, bitter radicchio, and crumbly bleu cheese. The dish works equally well as a Friday-night splurge or the star at your next dinner party.
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04of 11
Pears With Blue Cheese and Prosciutto
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These elegant party appetizers take just 10 minutes to prepare. Rich bleu cheese and salty prosciutto beautifully contrast the crisp sweet pear in what's going to quickly become a dinner party essential.
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05of 11
Slow Cooker Apple-and-Pear Sauce
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Tender pears and apples blend with aromatic cinnamon, warm vanilla, and maple for a delicate, smooth stick-to-your-ribs treat, You'll never buy ready-made apple sauce again!
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06of 11
Pears With Rosemary Sugar
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Whether it's a quick side or sweet fixing, this dish only takes 10 minutes to prepare. We love that you can whip up this recipe on a whim or easily double it. A crisp, totally satisfying delight awaits!
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07of 11
Gingersnap-Pear Cheesecake
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Ginger-spiked pear slices enhance the flavor of this rich dessert's buttery gingersnap crust. Out of the oven, allow plenty of time for this cheesecake to cool room temperature, and then chill for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.
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08of 11
Brown Butter and Vanilla Pear Pie
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Impress guests with this beautiful, super flaky, brown butter-and-vanilla pear pie. We promise it looks more fussy than it is to make. If you're feeling indulgent, pair it with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
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09of 11
Puffed Pear Pancake
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Part upside-down cake, part pie, and part pancake, this dish is wholly delicious. Deceptively easy to make, just arrange pears on an oven-safe skillet, add pancake batter, and bake until puffed and golden. Serve with warm maple syrup for breakfast or brunch, or with ice cream for dessert.
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10of 11
Gingerbread Pancakes With Pears and Yogurt
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Once you tasted this gingerbread-and-pear combination, you'll wonder why you waited so long! The spiced-up pancake mix batter balances beautifully with sweet juicy pear slices and creamy vanilla yogurt for a decadent-yet-healthful start to the day.
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11of 11
Sheet Pan Pear Crisp
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Granted, this recipe calls for apples, but you can swap them out for any hearty fruit like peaches, plums, or—you guessed it—pears. In addition to this dish's versatility, it's easy, feeds a crowd, can be made ahead, and you can take "sheet pan" to mean "easy cleanup".
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