Pear-fect!
By Chef Najoud Jabri,
Food Consultant and Blogger
They’re versatile and delicious in recipes and boast more fibre, potassium and folate than apples. For a true taste of fall, whip up one of these pear-fect recipes!
Whenever I’m at the supermarket, I find myself stuck for ages in the fruits and vegetables section. My shopping cart ends up full of fresh produce that I can’t wait to bring home and experiment with. My usual go-to fruits are bananas, mangoes and berries. I often neglect buying today’s ingredient of the month – pears – even though I absolutely love them.
Apparently, pears assist in digestion and are great for detoxing! They are rich in fibre, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, including copper, iron and potassium. They also aid in reducing the risk of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.
This all sounds fantastic! Let’s see how we can incorporate this fruit into our diets in different ways.
Simple Homemade Pear Jam
Serves: 6-8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Idle time: 5 minutes
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
4 ripe pears, de-skinned and deseeded
¼ cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ginger powder or fresh Minced ginger
Pinch of salt
Directions
1. In a deep pot, add all ingredients and cook for approximately 25 minutes
2. Let it cool for a few minutes, then blend until desired consistency. Alternatively, you can mash it
3. Transfer to a sterilised jar and seal properly. Stays good in the fridge for up to two weeks
Cinnamon Pear Chips
Serves: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 3 hours
Idle time: 10 minutes
Skill level: Easy
Ingredients
5 large ripe pears
1-2 tsp cinnamon for dusting
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 100°C
2. Thinly slice the pears, skin on, and distribute in a single layer on a baking dish (you will need several baking dishes)
3. Lightly sprinkle the cinnamon on both sides of each slice
4. Bake in the oven for one and a half hour on each side or until desired crisp level
5. Remove from oven and let it cool for a few minutes; they will become crispier when they cool
6. Either eat immediately or pack away for later use
