Buttered pear, brie and manchego toastie with onion crème fraîche

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Caramelised rosemary pears pair beautifully with molten brie and manchego, while layers of chilli jam and homemade walnut butter add gentle sweetness and heat to the toastie. Served with a sharp, crunchy bitter leaf salad, this is comfort food with a twist.

First published in 2025

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

For the buttered pear

For the walnut butter

For the onion crème

  • oil, for frying
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp of Calvados, or white wine
  • 100ml of crème fraîche
  • salt to season

For the bitter leaf salad

For the sandwich

  • 4 slices of rye bread, or walnut bread
  • chilli jam, as needed
  • 100g of brie, sliced
  • 50g of manchego cheese, grated
  • mayonnaise, as needed
  • butter, for frying

Method

1

For the grilled pear, melt the butter in a pan with rosemary. Once hot, fry the pear wedges in the butter until lightly caramelised, 2–3 minutes per side 

2

For the walnut butter, blend the toasted walnuts with butter and a pinch of salt until smooth

3

For the onion crème, heat up a generous dash of oil in a pan. Add the onion and sugar. Cook over a medium low heat for 30-40 minutes until very soft and caramelised. Stir frequently towards the end of cooking to stop it sticking

  • oil, for frying
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp sugar
4

Add the Calvados to the pan and scrape up any bits of onion from the bottom of the pan. Let it bubble away, then then stir through the crème fraîche and season to taste with salt

  • 1 tbsp of Calvados, or white wine
  • 100ml of crème fraîche
  • salt to season
5

For the salad, toss the bitter leaves and pickled walnuts with olive oil and vinegar. Season lightly

6

To assemble the toasties, spread walnut butter on one side of the bread, and chilli jam on the other. Layer the pear, brie and manchego

  • 4 slices of rye bread, or walnut bread
  • chilli jam, as needed
  • 100g of brie, sliced
  • 50g of manchego cheese, grated
7

Close the sandwiches and spread mayonnaise on the outside of the bread

  • mayonnaise, as needed
8

Heat a heavy pan over medium-low heat. Add some butter and, once melted, fry the sandwiches until golden and oozing, around 3–4 minutes per side

9

Cut the toasties in half and plate with the salad and a dollop of onion crème

First published in 2025

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