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Home » Blog » Condiment Recipes » Quick Pickled Pears

Quick Pickled Pears

Cathy Roma Published: Aug 17, 2021

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These sweet, tangy, spiced pickled pears are a cinch to make and are the condiment you didn't know you've been missing! 
These sweet, tangy, spiced pickled pears are a cinch to make and are the condiment you didn’t know you’ve been missing! 
Quick Pickled Pears in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks and a pear in the background,

I’m forever putting together big cheese boards when entertaining that are piled high with not only cheese, but pickled veggies, honey and even pickled pears. Often they’re considered appetizers, but I could nibble from one for dinner and be perfectly content.

I load up my boards with cheeses; hard and soft, stinky, and mild. I always include bread, nuts, berries or grapes, and fruit spreads. 

But perhaps one of my favorite additions to those big cheese boards are is a little unexpected…quick pickled pears. 

Pickled pears have a sweet and tangy flavor thanks to a pickling solution of cider vinegar, and sugar. Simmered in the pickling liquid are some whole autumn spices…a cinnamon stick, whole black peppercorns, and whole cloves.

You can mix it up with star anise, pink peppercorns, cardamom pods or allspice, depending on what you have in your pantry and which flavors are your favorite.

Quick Pickled Pears in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks and a pear in the background,

But don’t stop at cheese when it comes to pickled pears. Think out of the box!

Pickled pears would be delicious served…

…atop roasted fish or chicken,

…spooned over lamb tacos,

…sprinkled into your morning yogurt or oatmeal, 

…tossed into salads with toasted nuts and dried cranberries.

And did I mention how easy these pickled pears are to make? Just 10 mins (+ hands off pickling time) and you can be on your way to transforming your next fall spread. Peter Piper has nothing on us….now get to pickling!

Let’s make Quick Pickled Pears

Step by step photos showing how to make quick pickled pears. Combine the dry ingredients in a saucepan (1), add the vinegar and water (2) bring to a simmer and whisk until dissolved (3), pour over chopped pears and cool (4).
  1. Combine the sugar, salt and spices in a medium saucepan.
  2. Whisk in the water and cider vinegar.
  3. Bring to a simmer and whisk until sugar is dissolved. 
  4. Pour over the chopped pears, cool, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Tips for success

  • A firm and even under-ripe pear works best for this recipe to maintain shape and texture.
  • Feel free to mix up your spices, but be sure to use whole ones. Smashed cardamom pods, pink peppercorns, and star anise, for example, would all make excellent substitutions or additions.
  • If you’re someone that cans their preserves or condiments, these pickled pears would be an excellent canning candidate!
  • Serve these on a cheeseboard; on tacos; over fish, meat or chicken; tossed in a salad; over yogurt or oatmeal.

Quick Pickled Pears in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks and a pear in the background,

More Homemade Condiments

  • Tomato Jam
  • Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
  • Fig Spread
  • Homemade Ketchup
3.42 from 12 votes
Quick Pickled Pears in a mason jar with cinnamon sticks and a pear in the background,
Print
Quick Pickled Pears
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Pickling Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
 

These sweet, tangy, spiced pickled pears are a cinch to make and are the condiment you didn't know you've been missing! 

Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pickled pears
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 146 kcal
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
  • 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 pears, peeled, cored and diced (I like Anjou or Barlett)
Instructions
  1. Combine sugar, salt and seasonings in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the cider vinegar and water.

  2. Bring to a simmer and stir well. Continue to simmer until sugar is completely dissolved.

  3. Place the diced pears in a glass jar or bowl and pour the pickling liquid over them. Be sure they are fully submerged.

  4. Cover and let stand at room temperature until cooled. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use. Allow them to sit in the pickling liquid for at least 4 hours for the best flavor.

  5. Pickled pears can be kept in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Recipe Notes
  • A firm and even under-ripe pear works best for this recipe to maintain shape and texture.
  • Feel free to mix up your spices, but be sure to use whole ones. Smashed cardamom pods, pink peppercorns, and star anise, for example, would all make excellent substitutions or additions.
  • If you’re someone that cans their preserves or condiments, these pickled pears would be an excellent canning candidate!
  • Serve these on a cheeseboard; on tacos; over fish, meat or chicken; tossed in a salad; over yogurt or oatmeal.
Nutrition Facts
Quick Pickled Pears
Amount Per Serving
Calories 146 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 1169mg51%
Potassium 112mg3%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 31g34%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 15IU0%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
131

Condiment Recipes, Recipe condiment, pickled, quick, spiced, tacos, fruit, pickled pears, pickle, cheese board

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn says

    May 9, 2020 at 12:41 pm

    4 stars
    What a great way to get a fast pickled fruit taste when garnishing a plate! I took off a star only because (for my taste, anyways) the amount of salt was overpowering. I’ll make this again but only use a third of the salt and then add to taste. I also had a lot of leftover syrup (my pears were medium)? Like the idea of adding more/different whole spices to make the presentation more attractive as well :-). Thanks for publishing this!

    Reply
    • Cathy Roma says

      May 11, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      You can always adjust the seasoning to your preference, but for me this is the winning amount. Perhaps your pears were on the smaller side? Maybe add one more pear next time if you had lots of extra syrup.

  2. Bobby Knell says

    August 9, 2021 at 10:56 pm

    How long will they keep?

    Reply
    • Cathy Roma says

      August 17, 2021 at 7:40 pm

      They will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

  3. Bert Zehringer says

    August 23, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    I would like longer storage time. What are the steps for canning?? Thanks, Bert

    Reply
    • Cathy Roma says

      August 30, 2021 at 7:56 pm

      I am not an expert at canning, but I know there are a lot of great books and blogs devoted to the subject.

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HEY THERE, I’M CATHY.

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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