Pear And Gorgonzola Pasta With Toasted Pecans

Pears: Bartlett, red Bartlett, or d'Anjou pears (1/2 lb. each). For the best flavor and texture, choose pears ripe enough to yield to gentle pressure near the stem. Blue-veined cheeses such as gorgonzola and cambozola have a rich, nutty flavor; Danish blue tastes sharper. The American blue cheese is sharper.

This pasta entree was first tried at Ristorante Ecco in San Francisco.

Half fill a 5- to 6-quart pan with water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti and boil, uncovered, until barely tender to bite, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain; return to pan.

Meanwhile, cut each pear lengthwise into eighths, core pieces, and slice them crosswise 1/4 inch thick. In a bowl, gently mix the pears, lemon juice, gorgonzola, and parsley; set aside.

In a 1- to 2-quart pan over high heat, stir broth and cornstarch until boiling. Gently mix into drained spaghetti along with pear mixture. Transfer to a serving dish. Scatter pecans on top, and season to taste with salt and pepper