Bacon-wrapped pears for AIP entertaining

Two ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on work turn into something warm and a little special for when people come over. This is the kind of appetizer that looks like more effort than it takes, which makes it a favorite for entertaining.

The salt and fat of good bacon against the soft sweetness of a ripe pear is the whole appeal here. Pears bring a gentle sweetness and some fiber, and the bacon carries the richness that makes the bite feel complete. It is simple food that still feels like an occasion.

Sourcing is the real lesson in this recipe. Bacon often hides nightshades, paprika especially, tucked under an undisclosed 'spices' line on the label. This version uses no added paprika at all, so read the label and choose a bacon with no spices and no added sugar, and apply the same check if you swap in prosciutto. That single habit protects a lot of meals.

Ingredients

• 2 pears, skin on, quartered
• 8 slices bacon (nightshade-free, no added spices or sugar)
• fresh herbs to garnish

A swap worth knowing: apples stand in for pears, and prosciutto stands in for bacon. Check the prosciutto label the same way.

Method

Heat the oven to 400 F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

Wrap each pear quarter in a slice of bacon and set it on the sheet, seam side down.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Scatter fresh herbs over the top and serve hot.

Air fryer variation

The air fryer crisps the bacon nicely. Arrange the wrapped pears in a single layer in the basket without crowding and cook at 360 F for roughly 12 to 16 minutes, turning once, until the bacon is crisp. Treat the time as a starting point, since baskets vary (untested estimate, verify).

*Adapted from a-squirrel-in-the-kitchen*