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Pear Risotto {Super Creamy & Easy To Make}

This pear risotto combines taste of sweet pears, tangy gorgonzola and tops everything with crunchy walnuts to make the most delicious, creamy risotto.

You’ll love how this simple yet elegant weekday recipe can be served for special occasions.

Imagine slightly ‘al dente’ rice paired with sweet juicy pears and coated with a cream of slightly piquant gorgonzola cheese that simply melts in your mouth.

Enjoy it as is or top with crunchy walnuts to add more texture and even more flavor to this delicious pear risotto.

If you’ve never made pear risotto, you’ll find the answers to all your questions below, including recipe variation and best substitutes.

Pear Risotto Recipe {Delicious, Creamy, Easy To Make!}

Pear Risotto Ingredients & Variations

Pear is a protagonist of the whole dish. Williams pears work great but you can use any variety that you have available. It’s important to choose ripe pears. They shouldn’t be hard but shouldn’t be mush either. Peal, core and dice pears just before use.

Gorgonzola Cheese is another core ingredient of pear risotto. It’s bite balanced out the sweetness of the pears. For this reason I prefer to use spicy gorgonzola cheese variety, cut in small cubes (about 1.5. Ounce spicy gorgonzola cheese per serving). 

However you can also use sweet gorgonzola cheese if you prefer a milder taste. It will also make risotto extra creamy and velvety and you can even add a little bit more in terms of quantity (about 2 ounces per serving). If using sweet gorgonzola cheese feel free to skip butter or add half dose.

Parmesan Cheese  –  this classic risotto ingredient is quite optional in this recipe but adding just a couple of tablespoons adds a slight acidity which balances the spiciness and the sweetness of the previous two ingredients, especially if you’ve opted to using spicy gorgonzola. Feel free to skip Parmesan cheese entirely if you use sweet gorgonzola variety.

Only as a matter of personal preference you can top pear risotto with more Parmesan cheese after serving but this is completely optional since it’s already super creamy and is loaded with cheese.

Onions – a base ingredients for all risotto recipes. White or yellow onions all work great. You can also use shallots that have a milder taste with a hint of garlic.

If you have any other questions about ingredients or substitutes just leave a comment below.

Pear Risotto Recipe {Delicious, Creamy, Easy To Make!}

How To Make Pear Risotto Step-By-Step

Start by heating up the broth and bring it to simmer. Set heat on low to keep it warm.

In a large pan placed over medium heat add a generous splash of extra virgin olive oil and finely chopped onions. Sautee onions for a few minutes until translucent. 

Creamy Pear Risotto Recipe

Add risotto rice and stir well to coat all the grains with oil and onion mix.

Toast the rice for a minute stirring continuously.

Add white wine to “deglaze” the pan and let simmer until wine has evaporated (about 2 minute).

Creamy Pear Risotto Recipe

Not it’s time to start adding the hot broth.  Add one laddle at a time and stir. Wait for the rice to absorb almost all the broth before adding more.

Continue adding the broth a laddle at a time and stirring frequently until absorbed.

Once rice is almost ready (it should be still ‘al dente’) add diced pear.

Stir well and continue cooking until rice is done.

Lastly, add diced gorgonzola cheese and butter.

Stir well until it has melted and coated all the rice and risotto has a nice creamy texture.

Creamy Pear Risotto Recipe

Let risotto rest in the pan for a few minutes.

Right before serving add grated Parmesan cheese, mix well and serve.

Top with chopped walnuts.

You can also top individual serving with more Parmesan cheese to taste (optional).

Full Recipe

Pear Risotto Recipe {Delicious, Creamy, Easy To Make!}
5 from 2 votes

The Best Pear Risotto Recipe

This pear risotto recipe with tangy gorgonzola and crunchy walnuts makes a super creamy, elegant meal in no time!
Print Pin Rate / Comment
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Risotto
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups arborio or carnaroili rice , approx 350-370g
  • 5-6 cups vegetable or meat stock or water (see notes above)
  • cup Parmesan cheese plus more for individual servings
  • 1 – 1 ⅓ cup ripe pears (2-3 pear) , diced
  • 1 small onion , finely chopped
  • 6 oz gorgonzola (see notes above)
  • 1 oz butter , approx 25 g
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Start by heating up the broth and bring it to simmer. Set heat on low to keep it warm.
  • In a large pan placed over medium heat add a generous splash of extra virgin olive oil and finely chopped onions. Sautee onions for a few minutes until translucent.
  • Add risotto rice and stir well to coat all the grains with oil and onion mix.
    Toast the rice for a minute stirring continuously.
  • Add white wine to “deglaze” the pan and let simmer until wine has evaporated (about 2 minute).
  • Now it’s time to start adding the hot broth.  Add one laddle at a time and stir. Wait for the rice to absorb almost all the broth before adding more.
    Continue adding the broth a laddle at a time and stirring frequently until absorbed.
  • Once rice is almost ready (should be still ‘al dente’) add diced pear.
    Stir well and continue cooking until rice is done.
  • Lastly, add diced gorgonzola cheese, stir well until it has melted and coated all the rice and risotto has a nice creamy texture.
    Add grated Parmesan cheese (optional, see notes above).
  • Let risotto rest in the pan for a few minutes.
  • Serve topped with chopped walnuts.
    You can also top individual servings with more Parmesan cheese to taste (optional).

Notes

Depending on the rice, risotto is usually ready in about 20-25 minutes. Like perfectly cooked pasta it should remain slightly “al dente”. With a slight bite but not raw or grainy.
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Do you like sweet and tangy pairing like spear and blue cheese?

You might also like: Grape Risotto With Crispy Prosciutto & Gorgonzola

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This pear risotto recipe makes super creamy, elegant risotto in no time!

Buon Appetito!

Recipe Rating




Joyce

Tuesday 25th of January 2022

Risotto is my comfort food. I found this recipe today and just happened to have pears and gorgonzola. This was fantastic. We served it with a green salad and it was perfect. The step by step instructions and pictures are great. I will definitely try your other Italian recipes that I am enjoying reading. Thank you.

Italian Recipe Book

Wednesday 9th of February 2022

Hello Joyce, thank you so much for trying my Pear Risotto and for taking your time to let me know how it turned out. I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)

Ray

Thursday 12th of November 2020

What do you serve with the pear risotto?

Italian Recipe Book

Saturday 14th of November 2020

Since risotto is already a rich meal full of flavors you want something light to go with it. You can serve either a platter of cured meat or cheese platter as a starter/antipasto. After risotto serve light mixed greens salad with aged balsamic or as an alternative serve light Bresaola & Aurugula Salad With Lemon Dressing

Ted

Tuesday 10th of November 2020

A nice touch is to melt some brown sugar in a small pan and the add chopped walnuts to coat with the sugar - stir and allow to cool

Italian Recipe Book

Saturday 14th of November 2020

That's an interesting twist. I can imagine this will also go well for salad toppings. Thank you for sharing!

Ray

Thursday 12th of November 2020

@Ted,