Cooking with Asian pears--questions

[Louise]

Do they cook down into a sauce, or do they keep their shape? Some fruits and veg have that kind of crispness that keeps its form and doesn't break down with cooking--for example water chestnuts and jicama. I wondered if that would be the case here, or if they would moosh down like Western pears.

This cold weather has me thinking of this German dish, forgot the name, slab bacon chunks stewed with large dried beans and pear chunks and the pears mash down into the sauce & the honey sweetness is an amazing contrast to the smoky, salty bacon. Wondered if the Asian pears would work there.

Thanks.

[greygarious]

I came upon this post while searching for info about roasting Asian pears. The dish is called Birnen, Bohnen, und Speck (tr: pears, beans, and bacon).

[Pei]

I agree that Asian pears should never be cooked, unless you've already let them get overripe and need to use them up.

[Louise]

I'm thinking you're right about that, however I may try it with (western) pears & quinces together, the quinces peeled, cored, and grated.

[Kater]

I really think that you want to use another pear for the recipe you mention. Asian pears are fabulous but really should be enjoyed raw. If you would like to do something other than slice and eat, I often include them julienned in a salad of mache, butter lettuce, pecans and good blue cheese.

[OnceUponABite]

You can cook with Asian pears, if you are talking about the ones that are round and have a brown tough skins. In fact, when we were growing up, steamed pears with Chinese rock sugar were consider medicinal, good for throat I think.

Anyways, they won't break down, and will maintain their shape pretty well.

[jsaimd]

I have seen them poached and we have used them in a tart. They stay cripsy and hold their shape. They are better raw, but we had a lot of them and wanted a tart so we tried it. IT was good, but I prefer other pears in a tart.

[Candy]

Are sure the German recipe wasn't using quinces? They would hold up for something like that, soften and become delicious but would hold their shape.

[Louise]

Yes. It was definitely pears.

I do love poached quinces but in my experience they hold their shape rather than falling apart into the sauce.

[bitsubeats]

ohhh, I wouldn't cook them if I were you. I have never seen them cooked because well Korean's tend to eat them raw. They have a completely different texture than western pears (more crisp).

I am guessing that if you were to cook them, they would maintain their shape a lot better than western pears but they would break down a bit. If you are going to cook it, give it to me so I can eat it (:

by the way, bacon and asian pear sounds positively divine

[designerboy01]

Koreans sometimes put asian pears in noodles soups. I had it before and it holds its shape.