Description
These pear and brie cheese salad skewers are a quick and easy sweet and savory appetizer. Made with freshly cut pears, creamy brie cheese, peppery arugula, crunchy walnuts, and drizzled with balsamic glaze, they make a perfect party finger food that your guests will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 2 pears (Bosc, Bartlett, or European variety, ripe but firm)
Cheese
- Approx. 8 ounces brie cheese (~225 grams), rind left on
Greens and Nuts
- Approx. 2 cups baby arugula (about 5-6 leaves per bundle)
- Approx. 1/4 cup raw walnuts, chopped
Condiments
- Balsamic glaze, to drizzle (or balsamic vinegar as an alternative)
Instructions
- Prepare the pears: Slice pears into quarters, remove seeds and stem, then cut the quarters into roughly 1/2-inch cubes. Discard any very small or soft bits.
- Cut the brie: Cut the brie cheese into 1/2-inch cubes, leaving the rind on to reduce stickiness when handling.
- Assemble the skewers: Take a small 4-inch skewer and thread a piece of pear, a folded small bundle of arugula (folded in half for size), then a piece of brie cheese onto it. Repeat until all pieces are used and place skewers on a serving platter.
- Add walnuts: Gently press chopped walnuts onto the brie cheese so they stick well.
- Finish with drizzle: Drizzle balsamic glaze over the assembled skewers right before serving to keep them fresh and visually appealing.
Notes
- To measure ingredients without a scale, fold about 5-6 arugula leaves per bundle, cut a standard wedge of brie into 1/2-inch cubes, and use as many pieces of pear and cheese as needed. Smaller pear pieces can be eaten separately.
- Use firmer European pears like Bosc or Bartlett that are ripe but not overly soft to avoid falling apart on skewers.
- Make the skewers within 2 hours of serving to prevent pear browning. Store covered in the refrigerator and add walnuts and balsamic glaze just before serving.
- Other cheeses that pair well with pear and can be substituted include blue cheese, camembert, cheddar, monterey jack, parmesan, and pecorino.
- This recipe yields 8 servings but can serve 4 to 8 depending on appetite and number of skewers consumed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: arugula, brie cheese, party, pears, skewers, walnuts, appetizer, sweet and savory, balsamic glaze
