Baked Pears with Almonds, Honey and Ricotta

Step 1

Heat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F

Step 2

Prepare the pears: Slice the pears in half and use a spoon to scoop out the tough core and seeds in the center.

Step 3

Prepare the sauce: In a 9x13 baking dish add brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, juice from half a lemon, and almond extract. Stir to combine. Do your best to push it along the bottom off the baking dish so you have a thin layer on the bottom of the dish.

Step 4

Bake the pears: Place the pears cut side down into the brown sugar mixture. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the pear meets little resistance.

Step 5

Make the candied nuts: While the pears bake, place a small skillet over medium heat and add the honey, olive oil, and salt. Swirl the pan around a couple of times then add the almonds. Use a rubber spatula to stir the almonds around and coat them. Let them cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are fragrant, and a deep, golden brown. Keep an eye on them as they can go from toasted to burnt in an instant. Transfer to a parchment-lined plate and let cool.

Step 6

To serve: Spoon some ricotta into a shallow bowl and spread it around a little bit. Place one or two pear halves cut side up, spoon some of the sauce from the baking dish over the pears, sprinkle the candied almonds on top and finish with a drizzle of honey.