An elegant and easy Fall appetizer, my Rosemary Roasted Pears with Whipped Goat Cheese absolutely disappears at Fall gatherings. I spread whipped goat cheese on a platter then top with sweet, woodsy Rosemary Roasted Pears, crispy prosciutto, and a sprinkle of crushed pistachio. This has all the flavors of Fall in a beautiful, elegant appetizer.
Rosemary Roasted Pear with Whipped Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, and Pistachio
Recently, a friend of mine was hosting a Fall get together at her home. I asked what I could bring and she suggested an appetizer. My friend is really elegant and hates anything too fussy. I’m sure she would have been happy with a charcuterie board or a few cheeses. But I decided to design an appetizer specifically for her party.
I knew I needed something both simple and chic to fit the vibe, and definitely a dish with Fall flavors. Rosemary and pear make such a beautiful combination together–the sweet and woodsy balancing each other out–and both are some of my favorite flavors for Fall inspiration. Roasting the pears with a sprinkle of rosemary brings out the deep sweetness of the fruit while the rosemary brings its piney aroma. The whole house smells like Fall when these pears are roasting, and it’s delightful to see their warm, caramelized edges when they’ve finished in the oven.
A beautiful appetizer brings a lot of texture to the meal–I like dishes that have some softness, some crunch, some sweetness, a little savory, a bit of a tang. My Rosemary Roasted Pear with Whipped Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, and Pistachio completely delivers on this. The softly whipped goat cheese provides a luscious base for the appetizer. Then I top it with those sweet roasted pears, shards of crispy prosciutto for a salty bite, and a sprinkle of crushed pistachio. This is one of those recipes that’s so simple, but the combination of textures and flavors is really quite luxe.
I like to feature this appetizer as part of my Perfect Pairings series, highlighting the friends-to-lovers nature of pear and rosemary. Serve this app alongside my Pear Rosemary Mezcal Margaritas for a beautiful coordinated autumnal moment.
Needless to say, this whipped goat cheese and roasted pear appetizer was a huge hit. Serve it with a few crackers or do as I did, and let guests enjoy by the spoonful. Either way, I think I’m on appetizer duty from here on out.
Roasted Pear with Whipped Goat Cheese and Crispy Prosciutto
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a small bowl, toss the pear slices with the melted butter, rosemary, and a pinch of salt. Spread them out on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Roast in the oven for 12-15 minutes until caramelized and fragrant.
- On a separate parchment lined baking sheet, spread the slices of prosciutto. Bake for 5-7 minutes until crisp. Let them cool and then break them up into shards. Set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the softened goat cheese, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. Pulse until smooth, adding a bit more heavy cream if needed for consistency.
- On your serving plate, spread the whipped goat cheese. Use the back of the spoon to smooth out. Arrange the roasted pears on top. Then sprinkle the prosciutto shards and crushed pistachio on top. Serve with a large serving spoon alongside crostini or crackers.
Hosting Notes
- My favorite way to enjoy this is just by the spoonful. You could also serve it with baguette slices or crackers as well.
- Try a drizzle of hot honey or balsamic syrup on top of this to change the flavor.
- This appetizer can be made entirely in advance and stored in the fridge. If you want to ensure the prosciutto stays crispy, wait to add that until the last minute.
A Simple Fall Appetizer
An evening of Fall appetizers, full-bodied wine, and cozy sweaters all around sounds like some of my favorite gatherings all year. Just add a roaring fire place, and I’m there. My Rosemary Roasted Pears with Whipped Goat Cheese would be the perfect app to share. Or better yet, try it with my Pear and Rosemary Mezcal Margaritas to really drive the Fall flavors home!
For a little Fall get together, you could also serve soup shooters of my Roasted Cherry Tomato and Balsamic Soup. As with the pears in this recipe, the tomatoes develop a deep sweetness when roasting them for the soup, and the tang of the balsamic rounds it out. Little wedges of my Brussels Sprouts, Pancetta, and Goat Cheese Pizza would also make for a delicious Fall appetizer to serve. Or if you love goat cheese, definitely try my Goat Cheese and Pistachio Stuffed Mushrooms. They make for a gorgeous holiday appetizer.
Let your next hosting event be an impromptu one with simple, thoughtful, romantic appetizers to keep guests happy.
