Description
These Caramelized Pears and Blue Cheese Tarts are a decadent blend of sweet, soft pears and creamy, salty blue cheese atop flaky puff pastry, finished with crunchy walnuts. Perfect for a sophisticated appetizer or elegant dessert, they balance rich and fresh flavors beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet store bought frozen puff pastry, thawed (25 cm x 25 cm / 10″ x 10″)
Filling
- 2 pears
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- Pinch of salt
Topping
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (I used gorgonzola)
- 3 tbsp walnuts, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pastry: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Cut the thawed puff pastry sheet into 4 equal squares and transfer them to the baking tray. Score a 2/3 inch (1.5 cm) border around each square without cutting all the way through.
- Prepare pears: Core the pears, then cut each into quarters and slice each quarter into 3 or 4 thin slices.
- Caramelize pears: In a small frying pan or saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the pear slices, unsalted butter, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pears are softened and the juices mix with butter and sugar to form a syrup.
- Cool and brush pastry borders: Remove the pear mixture from heat and set aside to cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, brush the scored border of each pastry square with the beaten egg to help seal the edges and promote browning.
- Assemble and bake: Spoon the caramelized pear mixture onto the center of each pastry square, staying within the borders. Drizzle some syrup over the pears. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the pastry is deep golden brown. Add the chopped walnuts onto the baking tray during the last 5 minutes of baking to toast lightly.
- Finish and serve: Remove tarts from the oven and let them cool 5 minutes. Top each tart evenly with crumbled blue cheese and scatter toasted walnuts on top. Drizzle with remaining syrup from the pan. Serve immediately, optionally with a side of thick yoghurt to balance richness.
Notes
- The flavor combination of sweet caramelized pears with creamy, salty blue cheese and crunchy walnuts on flaky pastry is a perfect balance of textures and tastes.
- Serving with a dollop of creamy yoghurt cuts through the richness and adds a refreshing note—choose to serve with or without based on preference.
- Be sure to score the pastry borders carefully to allow puffing while containing the filling.
- Use ripe, firm pears for best caramelization and texture.
- Gorgonzola or any good-quality blue cheese works well for bold flavor contrast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 176 g
- Calories: 371 kcal
- Sugar: 22.3 g
- Sodium: 343 mg
- Fat: 22.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 8.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13.8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37.2 g
- Fiber: 3.9 g
- Protein: 8.2 g
- Cholesterol: 69 mg
