Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
Pear and Blue Cheese Salad is one of our favorite winter salads. It is full of candied pecans, Anjou pears, blue cheese, red onions, and dried cherries. And, then I toss this all together with a delicious Red Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette. We like this salad for several reasons. First of all, I like that I can make this salad ahead of time. So, I often make it early in the day. Secondly, I like how hearty this salad is. It is filling and delicious enough to be a main course. And, lastly, we all love how yummy this salad is. Truly, all the ingredients just taste terrific together.
The Equipment I Used
- A Salad Spinner- Use this to dry your arugula. If your arugula is wet, the dressing won’t cling to it.
- A Large Bowl- Toss your ingredients in a big bowl, so that the dressing can reach every item.
- A Small Jar- Use this to shake up the vinaigrette.
The Ingredients Needed for Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
- Pears- I used Anjou Pears, but you can use any pears you that you like.
- Dried Cherries- You can also use the cherry flavored dried cranberries.
- Balsamic Vinegar- I used a Red Apple Balsamic vinegar, but you can use any balsamic vinegar.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil- Use a good quality olive oil. I like the California Olive Ranch brand.
- Pecans- Be sure to check your pecans for shells.
How I Made my Salad
- Frist, I made the candied pecans. Be sure to keep a close eye on your pecans so that they don’t burn.
- Next, I mixed up the vinaigrette. Use measuring spoons and cups. Accurate measurements are important.
- Then, I tossed all the ingredients together in a big bowl.
If you like pears, you need to try this filling and delicious Pear and Blue Cheese Salad.
Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
A tossed salad full of fresh pears, blue cheese, candied pecans, dried cherries, red onion, and a Red Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Ingredients
For the Pear and Blue Cheese Salad:
- 4 cups baby arugula
- 2 Anjou pears, sliced
- 1 cup blue cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup dried cherries
- ½ cup red onion, sliced
For the Candied Pecans:
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp. brown sugar
For the Red Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup Red Apple Balsamic Vinegar, or regular balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. honey
Instructions
- Begin by making the Candied Pecans: Heat a medium skillet on low heat and melt the butter and brown sugar together. Add the pecans and stir them until all the pecans are toasty and coated with the sugar. Let them cool on a wax paper lined plate.
- Next, make the Red Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette: In a small jar, shake together all the ingredients.
- Then, in a large bowl, toss together all the salad ingredients. Toss in as much dressing as you like.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
