Recipe Overview
This Bacon-Wrapped Pear appetizer balances sweet poached pear, savory crisp bacon, creamy Gorgonzola mousse, toasted walnuts, grapes, fresh chives, and a port wine vinaigrette. It is a refined warm antipasto with strong banquet and tasting-menu potential.
Chef Notes
Poach the pear only until just tender so it keeps structure when wrapped and seared. The Gorgonzola mousse should be smooth but firm enough to pipe cleanly onto the crackers.
Connected Experience
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Ingredients
Base recipe = 1 serving.
- 180 g Bosc pear, poached and quartered
- 60 g bacon
- 85 g Italian Gorgonzola dolce
- 57 g heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks
- 20 g plain crackers for towers
- 15 g toasted walnuts, chopped
- 3 g fresh chives, chopped
- 80 g grapes for garnish
- 30 g red wine vinegar
- 15 g port wine
- 5 g Dijon mustard
- 45 g extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 g sea salt and black pepper
Preparation
- Poach the pear in lightly salted water with a splash of port until just tender. Cool, peel, core, and cut into four wedges.
- Wrap each pear wedge with bacon.
- Grill or pan-sear the wrapped pear over medium heat until the bacon is crisp and the pear is warmed through.
- For the mousse, blend the Gorgonzola until smooth, then fold in softly whipped cream.
- Pipe the Gorgonzola mousse onto the crackers with a star tip to create small towers.
- Whisk the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and port. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil to emulsify. Season to taste.
- Plate the warm pear wedges beside the Gorgonzola towers.
- Spoon the port vinaigrette over the plate and garnish with walnuts, grapes, and chives.
Service Suggestions
- Serve warm so the bacon remains crisp and the pear stays aromatic.
- Pipe the Gorgonzola mousse shortly before service for a clean tower shape.
- Use grapes and walnuts to reinforce the sweet-savory cheese pairing.
Dietary / HACCP Notes
- Contains pork, dairy, gluten, and tree nuts.
- Hold warm bacon-wrapped pears above 140°F / 60°C if serving hot.
- Keep Gorgonzola mousse refrigerated until plating.
Nutrition (per serving, estimate)
| Calories | 290 kcal |
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Cholesterol | 55 mg |
| Sodium | 620 mg |