April's Tag Game ~ Peras (Pears) ~ Community Forums - p1

Sun Mar 27, 2011 4:17 pm

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Using only the freshest produce and herbs available is the hallmark of traditional Spanish cuisine. And pears are among those fresh ingredients that are often featured in Spanish dishes.

There are over 3,000 known pear varieties grown worldwide, each with a distinctive character, texture, and flavor. 'Bartlett' is the most common pear cultivar in the world, and represents about 75% of U.S. pear production. Spain is the world’s fourth largest producer of pears, producing over 537,000 tons per year.

The European Pear is a species of pear native to central and eastern Europe and southwest Asia. It is one of the most important fruits of temperate regions (and is the species from which most orchard pear cultivars are developed in Europe, North America and Australia). Two other species of pear include the Nashi Pear and the Chinese white pear, which are more widely used in eastern Asia.

In the United States, the 10 heirloom varieties most widely recognized are Green Bartlett, Red Bartlett, Bosc, Green Anjou, Red Anjou, Comice, Forelle, Seckel, Concorde, and Starkrimson.

The pear is very similar to the apple in cultivation, propagation and pollination. A particularly interesting difference between the two fruits is that, when placed in water, apples will float but pears will sink.

Selecting and Storing

Most summer and autumn varieties of pears are gathered before they are fully ripe. This decreases the chance of bruising the pear’s skin if they are left to mature on the tree, which they will eventually break off and fall to the ground when they’re fully ripe. Since most pears are not yet ripe when they are shipped to markets, it takes a little knowledge to know how to select a good pear at the local market or fruit stand.

While the skin on Bartlett pears changes from green to yellow as they ripen, most pear varieties show little color change as they ripen. Because pears ripen from the inside out, the best way to judge ripeness is to check the neck for ripeness by applying gentle thumb pressure to the neck (or stem) end of the pear. If it yields to gentle pressure, then the pear is ripe, sweet, and juicy. If it still feels firm, leave the pear at room temperature, and check daily for ripeness.

Pears should be stored at room temperature until fully ripe. They will ripen faster if placed next to bananas in a fruit bowl. To slow the ripening process, store your pears in the refrigerator. But once ripe, most pears should be stored in the refrigerator, uncovered in a single layer, where they have a shelf life of 2 to 3 days.

Health benefits

Pears, and especially the skin, are an excellent source of fiber and a good source of Vitamin C. Most of the fiber is insoluble, making pears a good laxative, which studies have shown can help to reduce the number of cancerous colon polyps in some patients. Pears are also beneficial in treating inflammation of mucous membranes, colitis, gallbladder disorders, gout, high blood pressure, and controlling cholesterol levels.

Pears are less allergenic than many other fruits, which is why pear juice is often the first fruit juice introduced to infants. But it also makes pears an excellent dietary choice for multiple-food allergy sufferers.

Culinary Uses

Pears are quite a versatile fruit. They can be consumed fresh as a quick, healthy snack. When chopped or sliced, they add texture, color, and a naturally sweet flavor to a variety of salads and breakfast cereals. In addition, pears can be canned, juiced, dried, preserved as jams and jellies, and even pressed into cider. Most pear varieties are also excellent when sauteed, baked or roasted in a variety of soups, sauces, entrees and desserts.

There are just too many possibilities to list them all here. So experiment, and try a variety of pear recipes.

…………....………………….Tag Game

We have selected an assortment of pear recipes, including some wonderful Spanish dishes. You can tag a recipe from our list, or you can select any recipe from the database as long as it contains any variety of pear or pear juice. There is no limit on the number of tags; you can tag as many pear recipes as you can make and review before the end of April.

Featured Spanish Recipe ~ Pears

~ Fruity Sangria by Tarteausucre

This 5-star rated version of the traditional Spanish beverage called Sangria has a red wine base that bursts with added flavor from the wonder assortment of fresh fruit including pears, apples, and a citrus trio of succulent grapefruit, oranges, and lemons.

Other Spanish Recipes With Pears