Craving a sophisticated appetizer without the fuss? This caramelized pear and blue cheese tart delivers gourmet flavors with minimal effort.
Thanks to a shortcut ingredient, you can impress your guests (or yourself!) with this ridiculously easy recipe.
Ingredients
Let's gather our ingredients for these amazing Caramelized Pear and Blue Cheese Tarts! First, you'll need one sheet of store-bought puff pastry—thawed, of course—about 10×10 inches.
Next, grab two ripe pears. Seriously, don't skimp! Two tablespoons of unsalted butter are a must!
Now for the sweetener: 1/3 cup of lightly packed brown sugar and just a pinch of regular salt. Oh, and don't forget one egg, lightly beaten, for that golden crust! A balanced sweetness is crucial to offsetting the richness of the cheese.
It's blue cheese time! You'll want about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of crumbled blue cheese. I'm a gorgonzola gal, myself, but you should be you.
Last, but not least, 3 tablespoons of roughly chopped walnuts. You can buy them chopped, or chop them yourself — I don't judge!
Instructions
I know you are excited–I am too!–to start making these tarts, so let's get cooking. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F, and line your baking tray with parchment paper, that's our non-stick hero!
Next, cut the puff pastry into 4 equal squares and gingerly transfer them to the baking tray. We don't want any pastry casualties! Score a 2/3" / 1.5cm border on each square–it's like building a tiny wall!
Grab those pears, cut each into quarters-remove the cores-and slice each quarter into 3 or 4 pieces. Then, grab a small frying pan, and over medium-high heat goes the pear, butter, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cook for approximately 5 minutes until softened, setting aside to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Similar to cooking bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, searing the pears can help deepen their flavor.
Brush the borders with egg wash, avoiding the cut edges, and pile the pear mixture onto each piece. Finally, bake for 20-25 minutes until they are deep golden brown. Don't forget the walnuts toasting on the tray for the last 5 minutes! Let them cool before crumbling blue cheese.
Recipe Notes
To cut the puff pastry, press down with a large knife–and bring it straight back up–we don't want to drag the knife through the pastry; it will make the puff pastry layers "stick" together, so it won't puff up as much.
When you're scoring the border, use a small knife. Try to score it as deep as you can–for maximum puff–without cutting through! Don't worry if you cut through though, it should self-bond when baking. I often accidentally cut all the way through!
Also, try not to get egg wash on the outer cut edge of each piece of pastry, as it acts as a binding agent, so the pastry will not puff up as much.
This tart's best served immediately. If you're making it ahead, keep the tart separate from the syrup, blue cheese, and walnuts. Reheat the tart in the oven, then assemble per the recipe directions.
Nutrition Information
You know what—the nutrition is better than I thought! A single serving—that's about 176 grams—comes in at 371 calories, and honestly it's a delightful surprise.
Let's break it down. You're looking at roughly 37.2 grams of carbs, 8.2 grams of protein, and 22.4 grams of fat. Not bad, right? Plus fiber, a respectable 3.9 grams to keep things moving!
And sugars? About 22.3 grams, which, given the caramelized pears, isn't too shabby. I mean, we're having a *dessert* here!
Minerals and vitamins—calcium's at 120mg and iron at 1.3mg. Not too impressive, but hey, it's a tart, not a multivitamin!
Oh—a word about cholesterol: it's around 69mg. Just something to keep in mind. But seriously, don't let that stop you from enjoying yourself. After all, this is an indulgence you deserve!
Short Recipe Version
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- Pears: 3, peeled and sliced
- Sugar: 1/4 cup
- Butter: 2 tablespoons
- Blue Cheese: 1/4 cup, crumbled
- Walnuts: 1/2 cup
- Tart shells: 6 premade
Instructions:
- Caramelize pear slices in a pan with sugar and butter until golden brown.
- Let tarts cool slightly. Sprinkle blue cheese over caramelized pears.
- Toast walnuts in a pan until fragrant.
- Sprinkle toasted walnuts over the tarts.
- Serve warm.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):
- Calories: 250
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 25g