Asian pears are a common ingredient in a lot of different Asian recipes and tend to be used as an important flavor base in those recipes. When you can’t find this pear, it can be difficult to find a good flavor substitute since, like a lot of Asian produce cultivars, it’s significantly different from more western varieties.
Here’s what you need to know about Asian Pears and how you use them, and then how to choose the right substitute for your cooking!
Apples. As members of the same family, Rosaceae, it’s no surprise that apples are among the top alternatives when it comes to substituting for pears. They have a similar texture and consistency, especially when cooked.
What Are Asian Pears?
Asian pears are one of those fruits that you’ll occasionally see in regular grocery stores but generally have to go to a specialty grocery store to find them. Asian pears look a bit like a yellow apple, even more than looking like a pear. They are also larger than other pears, or even most apples.
This is also a type of pear that is crisp when ripe, rather than softening like your typical barlet-snacking pear.
The best feature of Asian pears, though, isn’t their size or texture. It’s their flavor. Asian pears are syrupy sweet, slightly floral, and have a strong juicy taste.
The combination of size, taste, and texture make Asian pears perfect for snacking, cooking, juicing, or a little of all three. Because these pears are so versatile, you’ll see them all the time in Asian cuisines, in recipes ranging from desserts to even the most hearty and savory dishes.
How Are Asian Pears Used In Cooking?
Asian pears are common in a wide range of cooking practices. They can be added to stir fry, but they are more common in marinades, soups, braises, salads, and more. Most often you’ll expect to see them eaten raw, added to marinades, or in braises that make the most of both the flavor and texture of the fruit.
Once you’ve started experimenting with Asian pears, you’ll probably want to add them to a lot more of your cooking.
Never used an Asian pear before? These 26 Asian pear recipes will help you get started!
Pears How-to and Varieties
FAQ
What’s the fruit that’s like a pear?
What fruit are pears related to?
What fruit is like a pear apple?
What is a very small pear like fruit?
What are the different types of pears?
The 3,000 known types of pears could either have red or green skin or even come with a golden-yellow or cinnamon body. Besides being eaten raw, they can be canned, dried, and used in different cooking techniques like grilling, baking, poaching, and roasting. 1. Green Anjou
Are pears healthy?
Yes, the pear is one of the fruits richest in fiber and phenolic compounds, there are several benefits of the pear for health, the main ones being the relief of intestinal constipation, cholesterol and blood glucose control and a well-strengthened immune system.
What do pears taste like?
The pear’s crisp flesh can be smooth or slightly grainy in texture. Pears make a delicious snack or addition to fruit salads. However, the versatile green fruits work well in sweet and savory dishes. For example, poached pears are a delicious dessert, and baked pears go well with pork, chicken, and cheese dishes.
Are pears ripe?
Also known as the Common Pear or Pyrus Communis (we spared you the technical name for all other varieties), they are native to Central and Eastern Europe. These are picked when the pears are mature, but not yet ripe because if left to ripen on the tree they generally fall off.