Ingredients
- 2 tbsp finely chopped walnuts
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 2 Bosc pears (ripe but firm)
- 1/2 cup apple juice
Roasting brings out the sweet-rich flavor of pears to make an elegant but easy dessert.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Coat a small baking pan, such as a pie pan, with cooking spray.
- Mix 2 Tbsp finely chopped walnuts (or pecans) and 2 Tbsp maple syrup in small bowl.
- Wash and dry 2 ripe but firm Bosc pears.
- Cut pears in half lengthwise. Remove cores with a melon baller or small spoon.
- Use a small sharp knife to cut a V shape around stem of cut side; remove stem.
- Trim the stalk at the base of each pear half.
- Score a zigzag pattern over cut surface of pears with tip of small sharp knife.
- Cut a thin slice off the rounded side of each pear half so that it sits firmly.
- Arrange pear halves, cut side up, in baking dish.
- Spoon nut mixture into hollowed-out core of each pear half.
- Pour 1/2 cup apple juice (or apple cider or pear nectar) into baking dish.
- Cover dish with foil; bake until pears are starting to become tender, 30 minutes (40 minutes if pears are very firm).
- Uncover and baste pears with pan juices.
- Bake, uncovered, basting several times, until pears are tender and glazed, 20 to 40 minutes (depending on ripeness of pears).
- If liquid is evaporating too quickly, add a little juice or water.
- Serve warm, drizzled with pan juices.
Yield: 4 servings. 110 calories, 2.5 grams total fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 3 grams fiber, 18 grams sugars per serving.