Prosciutto-Wrapped Pears With Candied Balsamic Drizzle

By
Janet A. Zimmerman
Janet A. Zimmerman
An award-winning food writer, cooking instructor, and author of five cookbooks. She focuses on dinners for two and date night cuisine.
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Updated on 06/28/21
Prosciutto-wrapped pears with balsamic drizzle

Matthew O'Shea/Getty Images 

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
388 Calories
18g Fat
42g Carbs
12g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 388
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 11g 53%
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 953mg 41%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 33g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 5mg 25%
Calcium 119mg 9%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 434mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Pears, like many other fruits, partner well with salty prosciutto. Broiling the wrapped pear wedges crisps the prosciutto and softens the pears just slightly. While you don't have to use a high-end, expensive balsamico, avoid the cheap supermarket varieties and splurge on a brand that's aged (you can tell by how thick it is).

As a short-cut, you can simply drizzle a good aged balsamic over the pears. But to take it to the moon, take the time to make some candied balsamic drizzle. An additional option would be to sprinkle them with some crumbled blue cheese.

Ingredients

For the balsamic candy drizzle (optional):

  • 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 ounce crumbled blue cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Peel and core the pear. Cut it into 6 to 8 wedges (depending on the size of the pear). Cut the prosciutto into strips (enough that you have 1 strip per pear wedge), and wrap each piece of pear with a strip of prosciutto. Place on a small rack over a sheet pan.

  2. Heat the broiler in your oven and place the rack close to the element. Broil the pears for 2 to 4 minutes, until the prosciutto is beginning to crisp up. Turn the pear wedges over and broil the other side for another couple of minutes.

Instructions for the Drizzle

  1. The balsamic candy drizzle can be made a few hours in advance and slightly rewarmed right before adding to the salad.

  2. Add all three ingredients to a small pan and bring to a soft boil.

  3. Whisk vigorously once at a boil and reduce to medium-low heat.

  4. Continue to whisk often as the sauce reduces to half its original amount. Taste along the way and add a little extra sugar if you'd like. The reduction process may take a half hour or more. Be patient—it's worth the wait.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Presentation for Serving

These can be served warm or at room temperature. Just before serving, drizzle with a few drops of the aged balsamic vinegar or the balsamic candied drizzle. If using, add a little crumbled bleu cheese on top of the balsamic.