Description
Delightful vertical pear blue cheese salad elevates simple ingredients into an elegant culinary masterpiece. Crisp pears, creamy blue cheese, and delicate greens combine for a sophisticated dish you’ll savor with every refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients:
- 2 pears
- 4 cups mixed salad greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula)
Cheese and Nuts:
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (tbsp) balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) honey
- 2 tablespoons (tbsp) olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Carefully slice pears into thin, uniform vertical strips, discarding the core and seeds while maintaining an elegant appearance.
- Prepare a spacious mixing vessel and combine crisp salad greens with crumbled blue cheese, roughly chopped walnuts, and vibrant dried cranberries.
- Create a harmonious dressing by vigorously whisking balsamic vinegar, golden honey, premium olive oil, and a delicate balance of salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Gently drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients, ensuring each component is lightly and evenly coated.
- Select a pristine serving plate and artfully position the vertical pear slices, leaning them against one another to create a striking architectural presentation.
- Delicately mound the dressed salad mixture into the center of the pear arrangement, allowing the ingredients to nestle between the pear slices.
- Enhance the visual appeal by sprinkling additional blue cheese crumbles, toasted walnuts, and scattered dried cranberries across the top.
- Serve the salad immediately at room temperature to preserve the crisp textures and vibrant flavors, presenting a sophisticated culinary experience.
Notes
- Choose firm, ripe pears for the best texture and vertical slicing technique, ensuring clean, precise cuts that maintain the structural integrity of the fruit.
- Experiment with different blue cheese varieties like Gorgonzola or Roquefort to customize the salad’s flavor profile and intensity.
- Toast walnuts briefly in a dry skillet to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch to the salad’s overall texture.
- Prepare the pear slices just before serving to prevent browning, and consider brushing them lightly with lemon juice to maintain their fresh appearance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg