Asian pears might be a terrific recipe swap for apples (which are currently experiencing supply issues!), but they’re also delicious in their own right. This crunchy fruit reaches ripeness beginning in early August, just in time to bridge that awkward gap between the summer and fall produce calendars. In size, texture, flavor, and juiciness, it masquerades as a blend of apple and pear, though Asian pears aren’t directly related to apples.
Asian pears are ripened on the tree, so they’re ready to eat from the moment they arrive at your door. Don’t worry if you don’t have immediate plans for them, though—just stash them in the fridge to stop further ripening. While their crispness comes from their hard texture, they bruise easily, so be sure to give them a little extra TLC.
Asian pears are often nicknamed ‘‘salad pears,” and for good reason: they’re a delicious way to add balance and juiciness to veggie-heavy salads as autumn amps up. Grate some up to sweeten your next slaw, or relish their mild taste by snacking on them whole while apples are slim pickings.
And that’s just scratching the surface. Some other ways we’re using Asian pears on repeat:
As a swap for other pears. If you’re looking to take a break from Bosc or D’Anjous, Asian pears are a no-brainer.
In an easy dessert that looks anything but. Asian pears are excellent at soaking up flavor, which makes them ideal for poaching. These honey-poached Asian pears are a classic Korean remedy for feeling under the weather that doubles as a bright and zesty dessert.
For adding subtle sweetness to vinaigrettes and marinades. Puréed Asian pear can be used as a natural sweetener, like in this spicy ginger vinaigrette, or this savory skirt steak bulgogi. (Newly acquainted with skirt steak? Here’s why we love it.)
Comments (6)
Love the recipes.
Not all of us have Instagram and Facebook accounts to access recipe videos.
The trend in upping the required minimum for an order is tough on the single or elderly person. That is also true for the items sold in larger amounts, which risk waste and spoilage if unable to chop/freeze or otherwise sustain the freshness of the item.
Thank you for sharing, Carol! We’re thrilled to hear you’re loving our recipes, though we apologize if this has been your experience lately. We always try to make our service as flexible as possible, so our customers can skip orders as needed if they aren’t quite ready for their next box. That said, we truly appreciate your feedback, and we’d like for our support team to learn more. We invite you to reach out to our customer support team to share your thoughts by using our contact form http://www.misfitsmarket.com/contact-us. Our team will use your feedback to better the Misfits Market experience!
Really enjoyed this post. Much obliged.
We’re so happy to hear this! We hope you can enjoy some Asian pears in a Misfits Market box soon. ????
I’m also single and going on 80. I’m concerned that I’m going to have to buy too much product to stay within a weekly or monthly budget.
Hi, Jennifer. Thank you for reaching out with these concerns! As a Misfits Market member, each week you will have the opportunity to customize, edit, or even skip your order if you don’t need anything during your shopping window.
Our shopping experience allows customers to be flexible, whether shopping for one person or a large family, and you can edit your box to include anything from pantry staples (like pasta, canned goods, etc.), produce, dairy, meat, and seafood.
You can always access your account details to look up or change your delivery date, skip an order, or pause your membership whenever you need to through your customer account. Your membership is free and we don’t charge any fees for canceling at any time.
We hope you’ll give us a try and let us know what you think!