Sweet, tangy, savory, crunchy Pickled Asian Pears make a good addition to salads or pureed root vegetables. Don’t overcook them or you’ll lose the “crunch”. Try them diced as a garnish on bleu cheese or brie spread on crackers. Lots of options open to your imagination!

Ingredients:

• 1 Asian Pear

• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pickling spice from market

• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

• 2 teaspoons lemon zest

• a few red pepper flakes (optional)

Preparation:

1. Peel, quarter and core the apple, then cut each quarter lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices.

2. Boil vinegar, water, sugar, salt, pickling spice, ginger, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes in a saucepan, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.

3. Add the pear and remove from heat.

4. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and cool. Chill, uncovered, until cold, about 1 hour.

Serve with a crisp, crunchy salad dressed with Japanese Salad Dressing.

Adapted from: https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Pickled-Asian-Pears-with-Lemon/