Asian Pears: a crispy, sweet 0 point snack
Whether you’re on a diet or not, eating healthy is something we all try to do from time to time. I find myself easily bored with the common fruits and vegetables, so try to go outside of my comfort zone to try new things.
I became aware of asian pears a couple years ago and have had a love/hate relationship with them. Sometimes they are flavorful, sometimes they are bland — I think it depends on the variety etc. Generally, the smaller ones seem to taste best. I’ve always found them at the chinese market and now see them popping up at Costco and Safeway grocery stores. However, the price can be staggering. At Costco I bought an 8 pack for $7 while Safeway was charging $3.99 per pear. Yikes!
Typically, the pears are protected in a foam mesh, which I find kind of funny. Unlike common pears in the market, asian pears are firm and don’t get soft. If anything, they may strike you as being too hard upon first touch. Don’t let that fool you, they are meant to be crisp and will remain firm.
Simply split the pear in half and remove the core — I haven’t tried them in any baking so far. The flesh is firm, crisp, and quite juicy. The flavor is subtle and as I’ve noted, seems to vary from pear to pear.
And, for folks on the Weight Watcher’s plan, asian pears are a 0 points food! And, for everyone, asian pears are a healthy snack — so eat up and enjoy!