7 tasty ways to eat pears

Quick appetizer

Mix diced Asian pear with softened goat cheese and chopped parsley or cilantro. Use as a topping on seedy crackers.

Taste-of-autumn soup

In canola oil, sauté a diced onion until tender. Add two chop­ped unpeeled pears, a few handfuls of cubed butternut squash or sweet potato, and a little thyme. Add water or stock until just covered, and boil until very tender. Let cool slightly, then purée. To serve, reheat and float a thin slice of pear on top.

Pizza with a twist

Brush a whole-wheat crust with olive oil, sprinkle with chopped basil, and top with thin slices of pear, red pepper and blue cheese.

Three pear-fect breakfasts

Sauté pears and serve alongside French toast or pancakes; cook some chopped pears into your pot of oatmeal; toss pear slices into a blender along with frozen berries, half a banana and some milk for a smoothie.

Craving curry?

Sprinkle pear slices with a pinch of curry powder or garam masala, then sauté in a little olive oil until tender. Works well as a topping for pork or lamb chops, chicken breasts, fish or tofu.

Lunchtime salad

Fold diced pears into a salad made from cooked wheatberry, quinoa or bulgur; chopped peppers; cubed cooked chicken (or feta cheese); walnuts; and cilantro. Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil to taste.

Simple sandwich

Add thin slices of pear to a cheddar- cheese sandwich made with multi-grain bread. Grill or toast in a panini press.

Related:
• Our best healthy pear recipes
• 10 ways to cook with pears
• 5 ways pears are good for your health