Pear Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
A wonderful combination of salty, crunchy and sweet. Pear Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect autumnal salad. Substantial enough to be a stand alone lunch with a hunk of crusty bread, or serve alongside a a steak for a decadent supper.
Ingredients for the salad:
- 1 large bag (approx 250g) of mixed salad leaves
- 3 medium ripe pears
- 150g crumbly blue cheese (something like St Agur is perfect)
- 75g toasted walnuts
Method
Toast the walnuts by warming in a dry frying pan. There’s no need to add any further oil, as the oil from the nuts will be enough. Don’t allow to brown, as they will become bitter. Set aside.
Peel, core and slice the pears, and mix in with the salad. Crumble the cheese and sprinkle the cheese and walnuts over the top.
Ingredients for the vinaigrette:
- 2 table spoons Balsamic vinegar
- 5 table spoons olive oil
- 1/2 tsp of mustard powder
- A generous sprinkle of salt
Put all the ingredients in a jar and mix well.
Throw the pear walnut and blue cheese salad in a shallow bowl or platter, and drizzle the vinaigrette over the top.