Pear & Pine Nut Conserve

Name: Pear & Pine Nut Conserve
Prep time: 1 h 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 5 half-pints.
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1 medium onion, chopped; 8 cups chopped peeled ripe pears (about 10 medium); 1-1/2 cups sugar; 2 tablespoons grated orange zest; 2 tablespoons orange juice; 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed; 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pine nuts, toasted

This easy conserve pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted meats, or it's great as a flavorful topping for warm toast or pound cake. Sweet and savory...eating it is like taking my taste buds on a quick trip to Tuscany! —Shannon Kohn, Simpsonville, South Carolina

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
8 cups chopped peeled ripe pears (about 10 medium)
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pine nuts, toasted

Directions

In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until tender. Add pears, sugar, orange zest, orange juice and rosemary; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 40-45 minutes or until mixture is thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in pine nuts. Return to a boil; cook and stir 5 minutes longer.
Carefully ladle hot mixture into 5 hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.
Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

Editor's Note

The processing time listed is for altitudes of 1,000 feet or less. Add 1 minute to the processing time for each 1,000 feet of additional altitude.

Nutrition Facts

2 tablespoons: 54 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch.

Originally published as Rosemary, Pear & Pine Nut Conserve in Country Woman August/September 2014