Pear and Blue Cheese-Walnut Salad

Sophisticated for the guests, but easy for the host, this salad features pears, blue cheese, and walnuts on a palette of greens.


Pear and Blue Cheese-Walnut Salad

by 1  person


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Servings: Makes 8 side-dish servings.
Total Time: 30 mins
Related Categories: Green Salad, Pears
 
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Ingredients
  • 2  tablespoons
    lemon juice
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  • medium pears
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  •  
    Mixed salad greens
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  • 2  ounces
    blue cheese, crumbled (1/2 cup)
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  • 1  cup
    walnuts
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  • 1/2  cup
    sugar
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  • 2  tablespoons
    margarine or butter
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  • 1/3  cup
    white wine vinegar
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  • 1/3  cup
    salad oil
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  • 1/3  cup
    pear nectar
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  • 1  teaspoon
    Dijon-style mustard
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  • 1/4  teaspoon
    salt
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  • 1/8  teaspoon
    pepper
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Directions
1.
Line a baking sheet with foil. Butter the foil; set aside. In a heavy 10-inch skillet combine walnuts, sugar, and margarine or butter. Cook over medium-high heat, shaking skillet occasionally until sugar begins to melt. Do not stir. Reduce heat to low and cook until sugar is golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Pour onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Break into clusters. Set aside.
2.
In a screw-top jar combine vinegar, oil, pear nectar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Cover and shake well to mix. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake before serving.
3.
Halve and core pears. Thinly slice pears; brush with lemon juice to prevent browning. (This may be done up to 1 hour ahead.)
4.
To arrange salads, line plates with salad greens. Fan pear slices atop each serving. Sprinkle with some crumbled cheese and walnuts. Drizzle with 3/4 cup of the vinaigrette (reserve the rest for another use). Makes 8 side-dish servings.

Make-Ahead Tip
Prepare nuts; place in an airtight container. Seal, label and chill or freeze up to 1 week.

Nutrition information
Calories 287, Total Fat 21 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Sodium 215 mg, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 5 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 20%, Vitamin C 36%, Calcium 7%, Iron 8%. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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