Balsamic Glazed Pears Crostini
Balsamic glazed pears with mascarpone and goat cheese has major upscale vibes. The flavors of sweet and salty make a heavenly pair. This is an app you’ll serve for your fancy guests - or even just for a table of one. It’s easy, fresh and so delicious.
Mascarpone is a like sweeter style of cream cheese. It's perfect as a pairing to other soft cheeses and even in desserts; hence, pairs beautifully with the sautéd pears in this dish. Goat cheese can vary in flavor from brand to brand based on the climate and environment of the goats. It's a bit more sour and dense - sort of like a feta. Mixing the two creates a lovely butter-like spread that's light, but still cheesy.
What you’ll need: Serves 4
2 pears, sliced
1 tsp balsamic
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup goat cheese
1 Tbsp honey
6-8 pieces prosciutto
Basil leaves
French loaf bread, sliced
How to make it:
Wash and thinly slice the pears, avoiding the core. You can peel them if you want, but if they're ripe, the skin will be soft and delicious.
Sauté the sliced pears in a tablespoon of butter over medium heat. As they begin to soften, add a teaspoon of balsamic and the lemon juice. Stir and gently toss until they're fork-tender.
In a small serving dish, mix together the mascarpone and goat cheeses. Top with honey.
Rip each prosciutto piece in half for serving.
Slice the bread into individual pieces. If the bread is too soft, toast it for just a minute to dry it out a bit. It's not intended to eat like a sandwich. A little crispier bread will give a nice balanced texture.
Either present the basil leaves as whole or slice them up.
Assemble a board with each ingredient and let your guests dive in!