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Recipes Nugget Markets Signature Recipes

Port-Poached Pears

Prep time
5 minutes PT5M
Cook time
12–15 minutes PT15M
Yield
4 servings
Difficulty
2 out of 5 on the difficulty scale
Poached Port Pear Nugget Markets signature recipes

Pairing wine-poached pears with blue cheese and walnuts makes an elegant appetizer or dessert.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup port wine
  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons raspberry jelly or jam
  • 5 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 Bartlett pears peeled and halved, peels reserved
  • 2 tablespoons blue cheese crumbles
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
  • 4 walnuts halves
  • ½ cinnamon stick

Preparation

In a medium skillet with a lid, combine the port, water, sugar, jelly or jam, peppercorns, bay leaf, and pear peels. Bring just to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer, then add the pears and cover.

While the pears are cooking, mix together the blue cheese and cream cheese and set aside. 

Poach pears for 10 minutes, then start checking for doneness. The pears are finished when a knife can be inserted with little resistance, usually after 12–15 minutes. Cool pears immediately to stop the cooking.

Use a melon baller or metal spoon to scoop out the seeds from each pear half. Spoon 1 tablespoon of cheese mixture in the hole of each pear half, or for a more professional presentation, place the cheese mixture in a piping bag with a star tip and pipe it into the hole.

Garnish each pear half with one walnut half and serve.