Baked Pears with Blue Cheese and Walnuts

Fruit and cheese are a classic combination. Baked pears with blue cheese and walnuts is an elegant starter that is visually appealing and not so filling that it spoils the main course. They are also easy to make so you have plenty of time to spend with your guests and are not slaving away in the kitchen.

Here is how to make baked pears with blue cheese and walnuts for six people.

Ingredients for Baked Pears with Blue Cheese and Walnuts

• 3 large pears
• 3 oz blue cheese, such as Stilton
• 1/2 cup of walnut halves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salad leaves
• Balsamic dressing

How to Make Baked Pears with Blue Cheese and Walnuts

1. Preheat the oven to high heat.
2. Peel the pears and halve lengthways before removing the cores to make round wells.
3. Place the pear halves on a baking tray.
4. Chop the walnut halves and sprinkle into the well of each of the six pear halves. 
5. Crumble the blue cheese and sprinkle over the walnuts.
6. Drizzle the pears with a little olive oil.
7. Bake in the oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until the pears have softened. 
8. While the pears are in the oven, dress plate with salad leaves and drizzle with balsamic dressing (optional).
9. Remove the pears from the oven and place one-half pear on each of the plates to serve.

Additional Tips

• You can serve this dish hot or cold. If you want to serve it cold, make it in advance and then leave it to chill.
• If you do not like walnuts, then simply omit this ingredient.
• I like to use stilton cheese, but you can use any blue cheese you wish.
• To make this as a vegetarian main course for a nice lunch, simply serve both halves of the pear and increase the salad size.
• Season the baked pears with blue cheese and walnuts with black pepper if you wish to add a peppery flavour.