Cheese And Pear: Perfect Pairing For Bartlett Pears

Bartlett pears are a versatile fruit with a quintessential pear flavour and fragrance. They are sweet, buttery, musky and a little herbaceous, with a smooth texture and abundant juice. When it comes to cheese, the possibilities are endless, but some pairings are better than others. So, what cheese goes with Bartlett pears?

Bartlett pears and mascarpone cheese

Bartlett pears have a classic pear flavor—they're sweet, buttery, musky, and a little herbaceous. They are a versatile fruit, delicious cooked or fresh, and make a wonderful addition to salads.

When it comes to cheese, Bartlett pears pair well with a wide range of options, but one excellent choice is mascarpone cheese. Mascarpone is a soft Italian cream cheese, often described as having a mellow flavor and a smooth, buttery texture. It is one of the richest cheeses, and its subtle and delicate flavor work well with the juicy, fragrant Bartlett.

A dessert recipe that combines Bartlett pears and mascarpone cheese is Red Wine Poached Pears with Mascarpone Cheese Filling. To make this, you'll need firm Bartlett pears, a vanilla bean, mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, cinnamon, and powdered sugar. The pears are poached in a mixture of red wine, water, vanilla, cinnamon, bay leaves, and sugar, then filled with a mixture of the mascarpone, cream, cinnamon, and sugar. The sauce is made by reducing the poaching liquid and adding butter.

Another recipe idea is a Brown Butter Glazed Bartlett Pears and Mascarpone Tart. This recipe includes a chocolate tart dough filled with a mascarpone cream and topped with Bartlett pears glazed in brown butter.

For a savory option, you could try a pasta dish such as Creamy Pear, Mascarpone, and Pecorino Farfalle. This recipe combines farfalle pasta with sliced Bartlett pears, butter, mascarpone, Pecorino Romano cheese, and parsley.

Bartlett pears and gouda cheese

Bartlett pears are a versatile fruit with a quintessential pear flavour and fragrance. They are sweet, buttery, musky, and a little herbaceous, with abundant juice. Their skin colour brightens as they ripen, turning from green to yellow, and they are in season from August to February.

When it comes to cheese, Bartlett pears are a good match for a wide range of varieties. A few top picks include:

• Mascarpone: a soft Italian cream cheese with a mellow flavour and a smooth, buttery texture that complements the juicy Bartlett.
• Gouda: a semi-soft cheese with a mild, nutty flavour that sharpens with age, taking on notes of honey, caramel, spice, and butterscotch. Aged gouda has a firm texture and a lovely amber colour, and its salty undertone balances the sweetness of the Bartlett.
• Feta: the salty-sharp feta crumbles provide a crunchy contrast to the soft and gelatinous texture of the pear.
• Chèvre (goat cheese): a soft French cheese with a tangy finish that becomes more complex and earthy as it ages.

For a cheeseboard, it is important to have a variety of textures, flavours, and shapes. Some suggestions for a Bartlett pear and gouda cheese board could include:

• Adding other cheeses with different textures, such as a soft cheese like brie or Camembert, a semi-soft cheese like manchego, and a hard cheese like an aged cheddar.
• Including different types of crackers or bread, such as flaky crackers, toasted baguette slices, or grain crackers.
• Using marcona almonds or toasted walnuts to add extra crunch.
• Adding other sweet elements like honey or jams.
• Incorporating savoury elements like olives, nuts, or pickled vegetables.
• Garnishing with fresh herbs, edible flowers, or other fruits.

Bartlett pears and merlot

Bartlett pears, also known as Williams pears outside of North America, are a versatile fruit that can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury. They have a light green hue and a distinctive bell shape, making them visually appealing as well. When ripe, their skin brightens to a golden yellow, and they become extremely juicy and sweet. This makes them a perfect choice for pairing with cheeses and wines.

When it comes to cheese, Bartlett pears go well with a wide range of options. Some popular choices include mascarpone, a rich and delicate Italian triple-crème cheese, and Gouda, a mild and nutty cheese from the Netherlands. The sweetness of the Bartlett pear complements the buttery texture and subtle flavour of mascarpone, while the nuttiness of aged Gouda adds depth to the pairing.

In addition to these classic combinations, you can also experiment with other cheeses that pair well with Bartlett pears. Some options to consider are feta, brie, blue cheeses like Gorgonzola or Roquefort, or even a semi-hard goat cheese. The salty, tangy feta provides a nice contrast to the sweetness of the pear, while brie adds a creamy texture and a complex yet subtle flavour profile. Blue cheeses, on the other hand, offer a strong flavour that can stand up to the sweetness of the pear.

When creating a charcuterie board or planning a meal, consider the different flavours and textures that will enhance your dining experience. The combination of Bartlett pears, Merlot, and carefully selected cheeses is sure to impress and satisfy your guests. Don't forget to add some crackers, nuts, and fresh herbs to complete the perfect appetiser or dessert course!

Bartlett pears and feta

When pairing Bartlett pears with feta, consider the following suggestions:

• Freshly diced Bartlett pears with mint leaves and feta cheese crumbles make a wonderful topping for pizzas or salads. The combination of soft pear flesh and crunchy feta pieces creates an interesting contrast in textures.
• To enhance the flavours, pair Bartlett pears and feta with ingredients that complement their sweetness, such as peppercorns, lemon juice, or honey.
• For a refreshing salad, combine arugula, sliced Bartlett pears, and crumbled feta cheese. This salad offers a delightful mix of sweet and tangy flavours, with the sharpness of the feta complementing the delicate sweetness of the Bartlett pears.
• Bartlett pears can also be sliced and served with feta cheese as a simple and appetising snack.
• For a more indulgent option, try pairing Bartlett pears with a creamy, rich cheese like mascarpone, which will add a luxurious texture to the pairing. This combination goes well with Brut Champagne.

Bartlett pears and seriously sharp cheddar cheese

When it comes to cheese, the possibilities are endless. However, a seriously sharp cheddar cheese is a dense, milky white cheddar with a slightly crumbly texture that is ready to soak up a juicy pear like the Bartlett. Layer it between some artisanal sourdough and melt it for a next-level grilled cheese. Alternatively, simply serve freshly sliced Bartlett wedges with cheese for an appetising snack.

Bartlett pears are in season from August to February, so you can enjoy this delicious combination all year round.

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