Pear Walnut Crumble
2 Tablespoon butter
8 medium pears (any variety) cored and diced (skin on or off – it’s up to you!)
1 tbsp ground Ceylon cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Optional – add 2 tbsp of maple syrup
Crumble Topping Ingredients:
11/2 cup flour – almond, quinoa, spelt or other favourite flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts plus more for garnish
1/2 cup packed date sugar
3/4 cup cold butter cubed
1 cup rolled oats
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt butter over medium heat. Add diced pears and walnuts in an even layer over the butter and allow to cook for 1 minute. Remove pan from heat and add cinnamon, nutmeg salt, and vanilla extract. Mix with a spoon to combine, then spread into an even layer in an 8×8 glass baking disk.
Crumble Topping:
Add flour and date sugar to a medium mixing bowl and combine.
Add the cubes of cold butter and start pinching them together with your fingertips and mixing them into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms a a ball like cookie dough.
Break off small pieces of the dough, about the size of the top of your thumb, and scatter them evenly all over the surface of the pears. Don’t press them down as they will settle over baking and create a lovely crispy crumble.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes until the pears are bubbling and the surface is a medium golden brown.
The medicine on your plate
Pears
Pears are naturally cooling and have a sweet and slightly sour taste.
They are particularly good for the lung system helping to clear heat and excessive mucus (think barking burning cough). Pears are also helpful in stopping a dry cough as they naturally moisten the lungs and throat.
They are actually wonderful for dryness in general and good to quench thirst or for dry constipation or dry skin conditions. Super to have on hand if you have to speak a lot and worry about losing your voice or getting a dry throat! A word of caution though to those with weaker digestive systems, avoid eating too many pears as they can make looser bowels worse or add to a feeling of chilliness if you run cold.
Walnuts
Nuts in general are considered highly concentrated nourishment and they are fabulous to strengthen our Qi, book and Yin. They contain all the nutrients necessary to support a plants first stages of life, so it’s no wonder they are considered a super food. We need the extra calories and nutrients in the winter months to keep us warm and strong.
Walnuts also have a moving energy and are great for supporting the Kidney system in TCM which basically equates to our ‘bank’ of energy or our reserved energy. Walnuts can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. and help to moisten the lungs and intestines which if helpful for someone suffering from a dry cough. If you tend to run warm or have loos bowels, best to leave these nuts out. great brain health
