With British pear season coming to an end, here's the perfect PEARing to our previous blog (Mushroom, Pear, Goat's Cheese and Walnut Tagliatelle).
Pears are often overlooked in the fruit bowl and can be found looking a little sad and soft, with the looming fate of compost heap lying ahead of them. But don't desPEAR - there is life in them yet!
All you need is a frying pan and a drizzle of honey (pear and honey: a match made in heaven) and in less than 10 minutes you will have sweet, caramelised, sticky pears to add to your favourite dishes - sweet or savoury.
Pear and honey: a match made in heaven
This recipe is a bit lighter than our other pear pasta (click here!) so it is perfect for when you are craving something a bit more fresh and vibrant. The crushed tomatoes with the capers and oil create a luscious base for the crispy, pan-fried gnocchi. Topped with the sweet pears, what's not to love?
Adding the gnocchi to the cold mixture at the end creates a light, cold pasta salad, but if you're in the mood for something warm, add the tomatoes to the gnocchi in the pan to warm through before serving.
Crushed Tomato and Caramelised Pear Gnocchi
Ingredienti
Serves 2-3
1 clove garlic
2 tbsp pickled capers
3-4 sprigs fresh basil
500g tomatoes
5 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 pears, peeled if the skin has gone tough and bitter
1 tbsp honey
1 pack Sunny & Luna Cauliflower Gnocchi
Rocket, to serve
Burrata, to serve (optional)
Non è un problema
Don't like pears? Swap out for peaches or nectarines.
If you're looking for a light dinner and the idea of burrata doesn't float your boat, this will also work well with ricotta or mozzarella.
For a vegan version, use an alternative sweetener for the honey (like agave syrup) and omit the burrata. Try pine nuts instead for a creamy, nutty finish.
Preparazione
Finely chop the garlic and roughly chop the capers, basil and tomatoes.
Place in a bowl along with 3 tbsp of the oil, salt and pepper and crush with your hands until the mix is soft and juicy but there are still chunks of tomato.
Core and slice the pears into medium sized strips.
In a frying pan, warm 1 tbsp of oil over a medium heat. Add the pear slices and cook on side until golden brown, around 3 minutes, then turn over and repeat on the other side.
Once the pears are golden, add a good drizzle of honey and shake the pan to coat the pears. Set aside to cool.
Wipe out the frying pan and add the remaining 1 tbsp of oil. Once hot, add the gnocchi and toss to coat in the oil. Cook for 5 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
Add the gnocchi and pears to the tomato mix and top with the pears and burrata if using. Serve with a side rocket.
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