Pickled pears add a lovely surprise to any dish and they especially go well with a sharp cheddar or blue cheese.
Quick pickled pears
5 Tbsp cider vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp walnut oil
1 tsp yellow mustard seeds
4 fresh sage leaves, finely shredded
1 spring onion, thinly sliced
2 tsp good quality honey
Pinch sea salt flakes
Grind of black pepper
4 firm pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
Method
Place all the ingredients except the pears into a bowl, give a light mix and taste. Adjust the balance of sweet versus tart but do take into consideration the pears will add a lovely natural sweetness.
Peel and halve the pears, removing the cores. Place the pears into the pickling mix and coat gently so that they don't discolour.
Allow at least 30 minutes to marinate but they will last overnight.
• Alison Lambert, chef at the Otago Farmers Market, will be demonstrating this recipe at the market on Saturday morning.
