Pear Tart & Perfect Pear Cocktail

Serves: Six | Prep: 20 min | Cook: 35 min

Ingredients:

Pear Tart:
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 Tbsp butter
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp fresh thyme, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1 lb pears
2 gently packed cups argula/rocket
1/2 cup gouda cheese, shredded
3/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1-2 Tbsp honey
fresh thyme sprigs

Perfect Pear Cocktail:
2 oz vodka
1 oz pear juice/puree/nectar
1oz elderflower cordial
4 oz sparkling water

Garnish:
Sliced pear
Sliced fresh ginger
Thyme sprig

Directions:

Pear Tart:
Preheat oven 400F/200C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, minced thyme, and salt, cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions are soft and slightly caramelized.

In a dry skillet add walnuts and cook over medium low heat, 4-5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.

While the onions and walnuts are cooking, prepare the pastry. On a lightly floured work surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out pastry to a 12X16 inch rectangle. Transfer to the prepared baking tray and roll edges inward. However, if puff pastry is rectangle shape just score around the edge with a sharp knife.

Prepare the pears by cutting them in half, removing the stem and core and slicing each half into thin slices.

Once onions are cooked, spread evenly on top of the prepared pastry. Top with arugula, the shredded gouda and scatter the blue cheese on top, lastly add the pear slices. Arrange the slices into two rows, down the length of the tart, overlapping a bit.

Bake, 20-25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven and top with roasted walnuts, a drizzle of honey and a few thyme sprigs. Let cool a few minutes before cutting and serving.

Perfect Pear Cocktail:
To a shaker filled with ice add vodka, pear juice and elderflower cordial. Shake vigorously, pour into a glass, top with soda water and garnish.