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Pick A Local Pick SA brand ambassador – Callum Hann’s Five ways to use pears

The humble pear can be easily overlooked for more fashionable ingredients, but I have to say that they have to be one my favourite and most versatile fruits in the kitchen.

Delicious, crisp and with less acidity than apples, pears lend themselves not only to enjoying on their own and in desserts, but in savoury cooking too.

Different varieties of pear are readily available at different times throughout the year according to their season.

Right now, at your local green grocer you should keep an eye out for varieties such as Duchess Pears from the Adelaide Hills and red Sensation Pears.

Here’s some of my favourite uses for pear:

• Slicing thinly and serving on a cheese board with blue cheese and a drizzle of honey
• Make a pear bircher muesli with oats, milk, yoghurt and maple syrup and allow to refrigerate overnight. A super quick and delicious breakfast will be waiting for you!
• Lay pear wedges onto a sheet of puff pastry with leek cooked with olive oil and thyme. Bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes or until pastry has risen and turned golden. Top with crumbled feta
• Peel pears and poach them in port, orange juice and cinnamon for 20-25 or until tender but not falling apart. Serve with a good quality vanilla ice cream.
• Grate pears into cake mixtures for extra flavour and to ensure the cake stays moist whilst baking. This works best for butter based cakes rather than sponges.

Happy cooking!
Callum