Grilled Sausage Stuffed Pears

• 4 Bartlett or Anjou Pears
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2/3 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (sometimes labeled “golden” balsamic vinegar)
• 1/2/lb. chopped House-Made Sausage from Joe’s Meat and Seafood (flavor of your choice)
• 1/4 cup sliced or coarsely chopped almonds, toasted
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 8 cups baby arugula
  

1. Put the quinoa in a small saucepan and add 1 1/4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside, still covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Drizzle in the olive oil and vinegar, and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss the hot quinoa to coat evenly, then spread it out on a platter to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add the chorizo, almonds, scallions, and mint and gently toss to incorporate. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
2. Prepare a hot fire in a gas or charcoal grill, or preheat a stovetop grill pan until smoking hot. Grease the grill grates with oil.
3. Meanwhile, cut the pears in half. Using a round metal spoon, such as a tablespoon-sized measuring spoon or a melon baller, remove the core plus a little extra flesh. Rub the pears on all sides with a light coating of olive oil and sprinkle them with salt.
4. Grill the pears on the cut sides until deep grill marks appear, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn the pears over and fill them with the quinoa stuffing, piling it on in a big heap in the center of each one. Sprinkle the tops with the feta. Close the grill lid and continue grilling until the pears are tender when pierced with a fork and the feta topping is lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the ripeness of the pears. If they seem to be cooking too quickly on the bottom before they become tender within, simply move them to a cooler part of the grill and continue grill roasting, with the lid closed, until they are cooked through.
5. Serve the hot grilled pears over the arugula, finished with a drizzle of olive oil over the pears and greens.