These Balsamic Honey Roasted Pears are a stunning dessert or snack that balances the natural sweetness of semi-ripe Bosc pears with the rich complexity of aged balsamic vinegar. The star anise, vanilla, and orange zest infuse the pears with aromatic warmth, while the thyme adds an earthy note that ties the flavors together beautifully.
When selecting pears, choose ones that are semi-ripe—firm but yielding slightly to gentle pressure—for the best roasting results. Aged balsamic vinegar elevates this dish with its intense flavor, and although it can be a splurge, a little goes a long way.
Dr. Blake’s Top Tip: Use a rubber spatula to scrape all the delicious vanilla seeds and pan juices over the pears before serving. Top with nonfat Greek yogurt, low-sugar granola, and a touch of fresh orange zest for a satisfying finish.
- Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients
2 Bosc pears, halved and cored
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 star anise pods
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped of its seeds
2 strips orange zest, plus more for garnish
2 teaspoons aged balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoon honey, we used orange blossom
2 sprigs thyme
1/4 cup nonfat plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, for serving
1/4 cup low sugar granola, for serving
Instructions
1 Preheat the oven to 400°F. Using a large saute pan over medium heat, heat the butter. Add the star anise, vanilla bean seeds and pods, orange zest, balsamic, honey and thyme sprigs. Place the pears cut side down and cook for 2 minutes.
2 Transfer the saute pan to the oven and roast for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, brush the pears with the balsamic-honey mixture, and flip the pears. Return to the oven and roast for 5 minutes.
3 Place pears in serving bowls and top with orange zest, yogurt and granola. Drizzle any pan juices over the pears making sure to use a rubber spatula to capture all of the flavorful vanilla seeds.
Notes
- Low Sodium
- Low Protein
- Low Added Sugar
- Low Potassium
