These pears don’t need much fussing over because they’re quite sweet on their own. A little touch of this and that will do. Glazed Pear Salad!
If you’ve passed the produce section and noticed all the sweet, juicy pears available, I’m sure you’ve picked up a few. Who could resist? Today’s feature is nothing too fancy. It just looks that way.
Back in the summer, I dressed some pretty little pears with ginger and Chinese five-spice in my post, What a Pear! ~ An energizer snack plus tips on how to have an endless supply of fresh ginger!, so I thought I’d come up with a new healthy way to dress them up.
Ever tried making a reduction before? Me either. Well, until now.
It’s actually quite easy. Simply put some balsamic vinegar in a pan with a touch of sugar and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until it reduces by half.
You can see the difference between when you start out and when it’s reduced by using a spoon to see how thick it is.
If it sticks to the spoon like a thick syrup, it’s ready. Careful not to leave the pan unattended with this one because it’s very easy to burn. It only takes a few minutes for the vinegar to thicken.
For this simple salad, you can fashion the pears any way you like. I was going for fancy, so I sliced the pears thinly for a delicate look.
Tip: If you’re going to be preparing the salad ahead of time, soak the pears in a bowl of water with the juice of half a lemon for about five minutes to keep them from turning brown.
Be sure to dry them well with a paper towel so they don’t break down and become mushy.
A drizzle of that reduction sauce after it’s cooled and a few sprinkles of goat cheese top the pear slices for a beautiful starter dish. Yeah, you could call this dessert, too. Either way, It’s a refreshing take on yet another simple side dish.
To get those fancy designs, you can use some sweetened condensed milk. Just place a drop of the milk in the center of a larger drop of reduction sauce and use a tooth pick to drag the design.
Delicious, healthy sides don’t require too much trouble. All it takes is a little imagination to come up with great flavor combinations. If you’ve got a fabulous idea you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you. You know where to find me friends.
Make it a great day and as always, keep it delicious!
Till next time ~ much love, Connie
Glazed Pear Salad ~ Sweet Thing
Ingredients
- 1 pear sliced in thin rounds
- 1 tbsp lemon juice and water for soaking
- 1/2 C balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp goat cheese crumbles
Instructions
- In a small bowl, place the pear slices in the lemon juice and water for five minutes.
- Remove and dry with paper towels. Reserve the pears in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- In a small sauce pan, heat the sugar and vinegar over med/hi until it begins to boil. Turn the heat down to med/low and simmer, stirring occasionally until reduced by half. The sauce will be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. It will thicken even further after it cools.
- Allow the sauce to cool completely.
- Plate the pears and drizzle with the sauce. Sprinkle the goat cheese on top and serve.
Notes
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