Pear & Blue Cheese Walnut Salad with Pear Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
14
Delight your senses with this elegant Pear & Blue Cheese Walnut Salad, featuring semi-firm but ripe pears, tangy blue cheese, and candied walnuts. Tossed in a luscious pear vinaigrette, this salad is a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
| 3 | medium pears, semi-firm but ripe, peels on |
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| 2 | tablespoons lemon juice |
| salad greens, enough for 8 servings | |
| 1⁄2 | cup blue cheese, crumbled |
| 1 | cup walnuts, candied (see recipe below) |
| 1⁄2 | cup sugar |
| 2 | tablespoons butter |
| vinaigrette dressing (recipe below) | |
| 1⁄4 | cup white wine vinegar |
| 1⁄4 | cup salad oil |
| 1⁄4 | cup pear nectar |
| 1 | teaspoon dijon-style mustard, sub. grainy brown |
| 1⁄4 | teaspoon salt |
| 1⁄8 | teaspoon pepper |
Instructions
| 1. | Halve and core the pears. Slice thin, brush with lemon juice to prevent browning. This may be done up to 60 minutes ahead. |
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| 2. | To arrange the salads: line plates with salad greens. |
| 3. | Fan pear slices atop each serving. |
| 4. | Sprinkle with some blue cheese and candied nuts. |
| 5. | Drizzle with dressing. Serve extra on the side. |
| 6. | CANDIED WALNUTS / PECANS. |
| 7. | Line a baking sheet with foil. Butter or spray with a nonstick oil. |
| 8. | In a heavy skillet, over medium heat, combine: 1 C walnuts, 1/2 C sugar and 2 T butter. |
| 9. | Cook until sugar starts to melt, DO NOT stir. Reduce heat to low and cook 'til sugar is golden brown. Stirring occasionally. |
| 10. | Remove from heat and pour onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Break into clusters. |
| 11. | PEAR NECTAR VINAIGRETTE. |
| 12. | In a screw top jar, combine: |
| 13. | white wine vinegar, oil, pear nectar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper. |
| 14. | Cover and shake well. |
| 15. | Store in refrigerator for up to one week. |
| 16. | Shake before serving. |
| 17. | Makes about 1 cup. |
Published on Oct 21, 2024 by Luminița