Recipe: Spinach in Crushed-Pear Juice

In preparation for the upcoming Vegan New Year celebrations (year of the pear) I present a simple recipe of my own creation.

You can find crushed pear juice in Koreatown’s P.A.T. Central Market (675 Bloor West) or Walnut Cake eatery. It is theoretically conceivable to substitute pear juice of the non-Korean non-crushed variety, but this has not been properly tested and will likely yield substandard results.

238 mL crushed pear juice
1 bunch fresh spinach
dried rosemary to taste
chopped walnuts

Pour crushed pear juice into a sauce pan and simmer until it has thickened somewhat. Add spinach. When spinach is cooked, season with rosemary, sprinkle with chopped walnuts and enjoy.

Bringing in the Year of the Pear

February 18 marks Chinese new years and the beginning of the Year of the Pig. The pig is a “shy character who prefers to work quietly behind the scenes. When others despair, he/she is often there to offer support (1)” The recreational vegan has decided to celebrate this event by nominating a fruit of the year that shares similar characteristics.

The pear. Seemingly always ripe, it’s there for you when you need it most. It’s sweet, remarkably juicy and delicious. But the pear is not flashy. Often mishaped, it’s not a symbol of seduction (e.g., the strawberry). Nor is it ever placed at the level of dessert worthiness (e.g., apple pie, banana shake). It truly is a “behind the scenes” kind of fruit.

Stay tuned as the recreational vegan (seen below in customary pear worship) begins its official celebration of the pear.