Easily served as a elegant starter — or as a main dish alongside a salad of winter greens — this Pear and Goat Cheese Bites recipe combines warm, crispy phyllo, an indulgent filling, and a drizzle of hot honey. But, beware! You’ll have trouble limiting yourself to just one. We also recommend sipping a glass of chilled, mineral-inflected rosé as a companion to this lovely dish.
What Makes Bartlett Pears Different?
Bartlett pears are a popular variety known for their juicy, sweet flavor and soft, buttery texture. These are the pears you usually see advertised through television and on the shelves at the grocery store. They are typically harvested in late summer and early fall so you’ll want to mark this time on your calendar in case you hope to use fresh pears in this recipe. Unlike other pear varieties, Bartlett pears ripen after they are picked, so it’s important to choose pears that are firm but not rock-hard. As they ripen, they become softer and sweeter.
Pear and Goat Cheese Bites
Description
Bites of juicy, sweet pears compliment tangy goat cheese in a phyllo dough.
Ingredients
- 2 Bartlett pears
- 10 phyllo dough sheets
- 3 oz goat cheese
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 tbsp hot honey
Instructions
- Peel and deseed the pears, and slice thinly.
- Place all 10 of the phyllo sheets together on a baking sheet or in an ovenproof baking pan.
- Spread goat cheese onto phyllo and top with pears. Fold to cover pears, tuck ends under, and pour over melted butter.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool, cut into desired-size pieces, and drizzle with hot honey.
If you just can’t get enough of the crispy phyllo dough and cheese combo, try our Cheesy Pepper Jelly Cigar recipe.
Recipe by Chef Jackie Page
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce
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