#MediterraneanMonday - Prickly Pear Recipes

July 06, 2020

The Mediterranean diet is widely considered the cleanest, healthiest and most balanced in the world. Rather than relying on faddy trends and unsustainable eating habits, the Mediterranean approach relies on the quality of natural products, seasonality and the freshness of ingredients. It promotes health from the inside out.

Prickly Pear

Prickly Pears are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They also help decrease blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol. Given its nutritious benefits, we've created a Mediterranean three-course meal with pear.

Starter: Bruschetta with Caramelised Pears & Grana Padano Riserva

Ingredients:

1 loaf ciabatta bread

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 pears

60 ml honey

60g butter

60g Grana Padano Riserva

3 sage leaves finely chopped

Method:

1. Peel and core the pears and slice them into wedges.

2. Heat a pan over medium-low heat, add in the butter and honey and allow the butter to melt. Fold in the pears and cook, turning them often, until they're tender and caramelised.

3. Cut the bread into thick slices and brush them with extra-virgin olive oil on both sides.

4. Heat a large pan on medium-low heat, add in the bread slices, and toast them for about 2 minutes on both sides until crunchy and golden on top. Remove the bruschetta from the skillet and set aside.

5. Remove the pears from the pan and add a couple of wedges on each bruschetta. Top each bruschetta with shaves of Grana Padano Riserva, sprinkle some sage leaves on top and serve.

Main: Italian Pear Walnut Salad

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh greens chopped romaine or arugula work great

1 whole pear, diced

1/2 cup walnuts raw or toasted

2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1-2 tsp raw honey

3 pinches fine sea salt

Method:

1. Add the greens to one communal serving bowl. Top the greens with pear cubes and walnut pieces.

2. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt and white pepper. Whisk until it's combined. Taste the mixture and adjust the flavours to your taste.

3. When you're ready to serve and eat the salad, pour the dressing all over.

Dessert: Italian Pear Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup sugar

3 large eggs (room temperature)

1 cup mascarpone (room temperature)

2 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil

1/4 tsp salt

2 pears

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 170°C. Lightly grease and flour the cake tin.

2. Clean and peel the pears, chop one pear into medium-sized cubes and the other pear into thin slices and set aside. In a medium bowl, beat eggs and sugar until creamy, add mascarpone and continue beating until smooth.

3. In a different bowl, whisk together flour, salt, corn starch, baking powder and baking soda. Stir the flour mixture with a wooden spoon and transfer it into the creamed mixture bowl, stir gently to combine and add the oil.

4. Fold in the medium-sized cubed pear and spoon the mixture into the cake tin. Top with sliced pears and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake for approximately 45 - 60 minutes.

In the same way that eating pears promote good health from the inside out, we also promote good skin from the outside in by applying Prickly Pear topically. The following products contain Prickly Pear:

Prickly Pear Face Cream

Prickly Pear Body Cream