16 Complete Protein Pairings with Pears

Summary:

• Pear is low in protein - about 0.5 grams per small.
• In addition, pear provides only 5 of the 9 essential amino acids sufficiently - it is a little low on histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan.^[1]
• Pear pairs well with carrots, chia seeds, hedge mustard seeds, pumpkin seeds or dijon mustard to create a complete protein profile. ^[2] More pear pairings and detailed analysis below.

• 
  Jump to:
• Summary
• Protein
• Amino Acid Profile
• Pairings with Pears (16)

A complete protein is a protein source that "contains adequate proportions of the nine essential amino acids" that our body can not produce on its own.

Relatively low in protein, a single pear contains 0.5 grams of protein, or about 1% of recommended daily values. ^[1]

To get the adequate amount of protein with pears alone, you will need 94 pears (13890 grams) for an average female, or 113 pears for males. ^[4] That's over 7920 calories, and a lot of pear! Pairing pear with a richer protein source is a good idea.

Full nutritional profile for pears
USDA Source: Pears, raw

Macronutrients in 1 small (148g) of pears:

Proportionally, pear does contain abundant amounts of 5 out of the nine essential amino acids. However, pear is a little short on histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan.^[1]

To have adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids with pear alone, you will have to eat 291 pears (43000 grams) for an average person. ^[2]

That's about 210% more pear to compensate for the lack of histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, compared to the protein requirement alone.

The amount of each essential amino acid in 1 small (148g) of pears:

1. Carrots
2. Chia Seeds
3. Hedge Mustard Seeds
4. Pumpkin Seeds
5. Dijon Mustard
6. Cashews
7. Spirulina
8. Lotus Seeds
9. Poppy Seeds
10. Wild Rice
11. Pistachio
12. Spinach

1. Sour Cream
2. Mayonnaise
3. Milk
4. Whipping Cream

Low in protein, carrot is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 1.7 pears (247g) and 2.5 carrots (183g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.7:1 of carrot to pear will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for carrots
USDA Source: Carrots, raw

Chia seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 10 pears (1480g) and 0.6 ounce of chia seeds (18g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.01 to 1:1.2 for pear to chia seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for chia seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, chia seeds, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, hedge mustard seed is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 5 pears (740g) and 0.3 cup of hedge mustard seeds (24g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.03 to 1:7 for pear to hedge mustard seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for hedge mustard seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, sisymbrium sp. seeds, whole, dried

Pumpkin seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 5 pears (740g) and 0.4 cup of pumpkin seeds (23g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.03 to 1:6 for pear to pumpkin seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for pumpkin seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, pumpkin and squash seeds, whole, roasted, without salt

A great source of protein, dijon mustard is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 3.3 pears (493g) and 4.8 tablespoons of dijon mustard (29g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.06 to 1:17 for pear to dijon mustard by weight.

Full nutritional profile for dijon mustard
USDA Source: Spices, mustard seed, ground

Cashew is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 3.3 pears (493g) and 0.9 ounce of cashews (26g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.05 to 1:16 for pear to cashew by weight.

Full nutritional profile for cashews
USDA Source: Nuts, cashew nuts, raw

A great source of protein, spirulina is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 3.3 pears (493g) and 1.2 tablespoons of spirulina (8g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.02 to 1:5 for pear to spirulina by weight.

Full nutritional profile for spirulina
USDA Source: Seaweed, spirulina, dried

Lotus seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 1.7 pears (247g) and 1.5 cups of lotus seeds (47g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.19:1 of lotus seed to pear will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for lotus seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, lotus seeds, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, poppy seed is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 10 pears (1480g) and 9.4 teaspoons of poppy seeds (26g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.02 to 1:1.8 for pear to poppy seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for poppy seeds
USDA Source: Spices, poppy seed

Wild rice is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 10 pears (1480g) and 0.7 cup of wild rice (115g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.08 to 1:0 for pear to wild rice by weight.

Full nutritional profile for wild rice
USDA Source: Wild rice, cooked

A great source of protein, pistachio is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 2 pears (296g) and 3.9 tablespoons of pistachio (30g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.1:1 of pistachio to pear will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for pistachio
USDA Source: Nuts, pistachio nuts, dry roasted, without salt added

Spinach is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 2.5 pears (370g) and 6.6 cups of spinach (197g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.5:1 of spinach to pear will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for spinach
USDA Source: Spinach, raw

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, sour cream is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 10 pears (1480g) and 0.7 cup of sour cream (144g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.1 to 1:10 for pear to sour cream by weight.

Full nutritional profile for sour cream
USDA Source: Cream, sour, cultured

Mayonnaise is low in protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 5 pears (740g) and 1 cup of mayonnaise (219g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.3:1 of mayonnaise to pear will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for mayonnaise
USDA Source: Salad dressing, mayonnaise, regular

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, milk is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, which is complementary to pear.

A ratio of 5 pears (740g) and 0.3 cup of milk (82g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.11 to 1:22 for pear to milk by weight.

Full nutritional profile for milk
USDA Source: Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

Whipping cream is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in histidine, leucine, methionine and tryptophan, complementing the profile of pear.

For example, 5 pears (740g) and 1.6 cups of whipping cream (98g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.13 to 1:26 for pear to whipping cream by weight.

Full nutritional profile for whipping cream
USDA Source: Cream, whipped, cream topping, pressurized