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New Delhi: World Pear Day celebrates the humble pear and its rich culinary history across cultures. Chefs and home cooks alike search for pear recipes, pear desserts, and seasonal pear ideas. From poached pears to tart classics, pears bring delicate sweetness and texture to dishes. This guide explores pear history, quirky pear facts, and three iconic pear recipes you can make at home. Ready to discover recipes, techniques and flavour pairings that make pears shine for every season and celebration and wellbeing.

Each pear variety offers unique texture and sweetness, perfect for baking and savoury dishes. Use conference, Bartlett or Packham pears for reliable results. Pair pears with cheese, spices or wine for elegant plates. These recipes suit beginners and confident cooks alike. Let’s celebrate World Pear Day with simple, iconic dishes that impress and become family favourites quickly this season.

#WorldPearDay: History of the iconic fruit

Pears have been cultivated for millennia across Europe and Asia. Ancient texts from Rome and China mention pear cultivation. Medieval orchards preserved many heirloom varieties for centuries. The pear spread with trade and exploration. By the 17th century, distinct regional types developed across Europe. Modern breeding created hardy and sweet varieties for global markets.

Fun, unique facts about the pear on World Pear Day 2025

• Pear trees often live for decades and sometimes centuries.
• The word “pear” appears in several ancient languages and poems.
• Pears ripen from the inside out, so texture matters more than colour.
• Conference, Bartlett and Packham are globally popular commercial varieties.
• Pears are low in calories and high in fibre and vitamins.
• Asian pears are crisp like apples, while European pears are softer.

Iconic Pear recipes with full recipes and ingredients

1. Classic poached pears in red wine

Ingredients for poached pears in red wine (serves 4):

• 4 firm pears (conference or Bartlett)
• 750ml red wine
• 125g caster sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 vanilla pod, split

Recipe for poached pears in red wine:

1. Peel pears, leaving stems intact.
2. In a pan, combine wine, sugar, spices and orange zest.
3. Add pears and simmer gently for 20–30 minutes.
4. Turn pears so they cook evenly.
5. Cool in the syrup, then chill for two hours.
6. Serve with reduced syrup and vanilla ice cream.

2. Pear, blue cheese and walnut salad

Ingredients for pear, blue cheese and walnut salad (serves 2):

• 2 ripe but firm pears, sliced
• 50g blue cheese, crumbled
• 40g walnuts, toasted
• Mixed salad leaves (100g)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe for pear, blue cheese and walnut salad:

1. Whisk oil, honey and lemon for the dressing.
2. Toss salad leaves with dressing lightly.
3. Arrange pear slices over greens.
4. Sprinkle blue cheese and toasted walnuts.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

3. Sticky pear and almond upside-down cake

Ingredients for pear and almond cake:

• 3 medium pears, peeled and sliced
• 75g unsalted butter (for caramel)
• 100g brown sugar (for caramel)
• 100g butter (for batter)
• 150g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 175g self-raising flour
• 75g ground almonds
• 2 tbsp milk

Method for making pear and almond cake:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
2. Melt butter and brown sugar in a pan to caramelise.
3. Pour caramel into the lined tin and arrange pear slices.
4. Beat butter and caster sugar until pale.
5. Add eggs one at a time, then fold in flour and almonds.
6. Stir in milk to loosen batter.
7. Spoon batter over pears and smooth the top.
8. Bake 35–40 minutes until golden and cooked through.
9. Cool 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate.
10. Serve warm with crème fraîche or cream.

World Pear Day is a lovely excuse to celebrate the fruit’s flavour and versatility. These recipes showcase poached pears, fresh salads, and a comfort cake that highlights pear texture. Try one or all three to enjoy pear season at home. If you’d like, I can create a printable recipe card or a vegetarian menu pairing for these dishes.