Pear and Blue Cheese Salad

Seasonal and elegant salad for entertaining and the holidays.

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword homemade salad dressing, pear and blue cheese salad

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 313kcal

Author Kelly | the hungry bluebird

Ingredients

Dressing

1 large shallot, minced
½ cup safflower oil (or neutral salad oil, like canola)
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
¾ tsp 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
⅓ 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 1/4 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.

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