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Pear and Blue Cheese Salad

Pear and blue cheese salad, a seasonal and elegant salad for entertaining and the holidays.  Pears, blue cheese, an easy honey mustard vinaigrette and toasted pine nuts, the perfect fall and winter salad.

Pear and Blue Cheese Salad on china plates.

Fall is finally here and so are pears.  They just started popping up in the grocery stores.  Seasonal stuff is always so good.  This is definitely the best time for winter squash and sweet potatoes.  And pears.

Display of pears in grocery store.

I was thinking the other day about a salad I used to make all the time when I entertained.  I had to dig deep in my messy recipe drawer to find it.  I thought I should make this for us, not just guests.  I have quite a few things I only make when I entertain.  I need to revisit those recipes, dust them off and start making them again.

Three pears and wedge of blue cheese on cutting board.

Like so many things I used to make, I got this salad idea from the Chicago newspaper, probably circa 1992.  It has yellowed and I had scribbled some notes on it.  Polenta 8:20.  Copy salad for Jo-Marie.  I am sure I must have had her for dinner and made this salad.  I also must have made polenta.  I told my mom I was making this the other night and she said, oh, I love that salad.  Yeah, we do too.

Crumbled blue cheese on cutting board.

Cubed pears tossed with dressing in bowl with spoon.

Pears are sweet and pretty mild so they work really well with some stronger flavors like blue cheese.  This salad is very simple to make, mixed greens with a honey-mustard vinaigrette, crumbled blue cheese and toasted pine nuts.  It tastes great and looks so beautiful and appetizing on the plate.  No wonder I made this when I had friends and family for dinner.

Plated salads on china plates.

So Meathead grilled some lamb chops, to absolute perfection.  We can't even remember the last time we had lamb.  I put a couple potatoes in the oven and made this pear and blue cheese salad.  Lamb chops, baked potato and a perfect fall salad.  It doesn't get any better than this.  Treat yourself and family to this salad, and don't wait for company.  Best, Kelly🍴🐦

Pear and blue cheese salad on two salad plates.

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Pear and blue cheese salad on two salad plates.

Pear and Blue Cheese Salad

Seasonal and elegant salad for entertaining and the holidays.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 313kcal

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • ½ cup safflower oil (or neutral salad oil, like canola)
  • 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¾ teaspoon coarsely cracked pepper
  • Pinch kosher salt

Salad

  • 2 large ripe, firm pears, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice ~ I used Bartlett but Anjou or Bosc work too)
  • 12 cups mixed greens, washed, crisped and chilled
  • Kosher slat and pepper
  • cup blue cheese, crumbled ~ I think I use more
  • ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted

Instructions

  • For dressing, put all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously to combine.
  • Toss diced pears with scant ¼ cup dressing. Can be made 2 hours ahead, cover and refrigerate.
  • To serve, put greens in a large bowl and toss with remaining dressing. Divide among 6 plates and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Scatter pears over greens, dividing evenly (or do like me and mound the pears in the center of the plate).
  • Lastly, garnish with crumbled blue cheese and then the pine nuts, again dividing evenly.  Serve immediately and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Note:  To toast pine nuts, put in a small skillet over medium heat and shake and toss until fragrant and light brown.  Be careful because they burn easily.  Do not take your eyes off the prize.

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal Carbohydrates: 22g Protein: 4g Fat: 25g Saturated Fat: 3g Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g Monounsaturated Fat: 14g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 6mg Sodium: 137mg Potassium: 306mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 14g Vitamin A: 990IU Vitamin C: 22mg Calcium: 63mg Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

 

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)
Recipe Rating