PEARS

Other Names: Apple pear, Chinese pear, sand pear.
Description: Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia orPyrus ussuriensis) resemble a cross between an apple and a pear. There are over 100 varieties (most grown in Japan) of this firm, juicy pear. Its skin may be smooth with a lacquerlike shine but more commonly it is russeted. Ripe Asian pears are firm, crunchy, very juicy, and lightly sweet, some with a tart edge. There are varieties with a grainy or sandy quality, giving them the name “sand pears.”
Hosui are medium to large round pears with greenish brown russet skin and medium tough flesh. Kosui are small and flat, with light green to golden bronze skin that is partially russeted. Nijisseiki (or 20th century) were introduced in 1898 and are the most widely grown Asian pears worldwide. The fruit is round to oblong with thin, tender, smooth greenish yellow skin.
Shinseiki have skin that is light greenish yellow and smooth. Tsu Li is an old and famous cultivar in China that is egg to pear-shaped with skin that is light green to yellowish green and slightly bitter. Ya Li is another old cultivar and is pear-shaped with light greenish yellow, smooth skin.
Season: Asian pears are available July to late October from California, Washington, Oregon, Japan, and New Zealand. 20th century are in season from mid-August to early September; Hosui and Shinseiki from late July to mid-August.
Purchase: Look for hard Asian pears with a mild pear fragrance.
Avoid: Wrinkled or soft Asian pears are undesirable.
Storage: Store Asian pears for up to 4 weeks in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Preparation:

1. Wash under cool running water.
2. Peel, if desired, using a vegetable peeler or a knife.
3. Cut into wedges, cutting out and discarding the seeds and any hard flesh surrounding them.

Serving Suggestions: Combine diced sweet onions, chopped watercress, and peeled, cut-up Asian pears with chicken stock, simmer till the pears are tender, then blend and season, adding cream prior to serving to make a soup. Dress diced, cooked chicken with diced celery, sliced scallions, diced unpeeled Asian pears, and chopped cilantro with mayonnaise and curry powder to make a curried chicken salad. Serve Asian pear wedges with a dip made from sesame paste, lemon juice, grated ginger, and honey.

Technorati Tags: Apple pear,Chinese pear,sand pear