Description
The Roquefort Pear Salad combines sharp Roquefort cheese with sweet, juicy pears and candied pecans, offering a sophisticated flavor experience in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup pecans
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup olive oil (extra virgin recommended)
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1½ teaspoons white sugar
- 1½ teaspoons prepared mustard (Dijon recommended)
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 head green leaf lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 3 medium pears, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled
- 1 medium avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
- ½ cup thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and sugar. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly until sugar melts and coats the pecans. Immediately transfer to the prepared baking sheet to cool completely. Break into smaller pieces if needed.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, mustard, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously until well combined.
- Wash and dry the green leaf lettuce, then tear into bite-sized pieces. Peel, core, and chop the pears. Crumble the Roquefort cheese, dice the avocado, and thinly slice the green onions.
- In a large salad bowl, place the green leaf lettuce as the base. Arrange the chopped pears, diced avocado, and sliced green onions over the lettuce. Sprinkle crumbled Roquefort cheese and caramelized pecans on top. Drizzle with the mustard vinaigrette before serving.
Notes
- Prepare the pecans and dressing ahead of time, but assemble the salad just before serving for freshness.
- For a vegan alternative, substitute Roquefort with a dairy-free blue cheese.
- Remove the Roquefort from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving.
- Store leftovers separately in airtight containers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of salad
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 0
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 0