5.0 from 60 votes
Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Rocket
Classic combination of ingredients, cheeseboard favourites transformed in salad form with the addition of pepper rocket lettuce!Ideal to serve as a starter, light lunch or as a side for a main that's not too rich.We go light on the dressing here because the blue cheese and juice from the pears act as part of the dressing. See Note 1 for my recommende blue cheeses.
Prep Time
15 mins
Servings: 5 - 6 as a side
Calories: 266 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 - 2 pears , any type, juicy and ripe (or nashi pears or sweet apples)
- 3/4 cup walnuts , whole (sub almonds, pecans)
- 120g / 4oz rocket/arugula lettuce
- 120g / 4 oz roquefort, gorgonzola, stilton or other good blue cheese, creamy but can be crumbled into chunks (Note 1)
Honey Mustard Dressing:
- 1 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 tbsp honey
- 1 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing: Shake Dressing in a jar.
- Pears: Halve then scoop out core. Place cut face down and slice into 3mm / 0.12" slices. (Note 2)
- Walnuts: Spread on tray and toast in a 180°C/350°F oven for 8 minutes or until they smell nutty. Leave some whole, break some in half with hands.
- Dress rocket: In a large bowl, toss rocket with 2 tbsp Dressing.
- Assemble: Pile 1/3 rocket on a platter. Scatter with 1/3 pears, 1/3 walnuts, 1/3 blue cheese crumbled into small chunks. Repeat twice more. Drizzle with remaining Dressing just before serving.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Blue cheese - Look for a blue that is creamy so it sticks to the salad but still firm enough to crumble into chunks with your fingers (though your fingers will be smeared with blue cheese!). Blue brie is too creamy, cheddar-like ones are too hard - they just end up at bottom of bowl.
- My favourite (in order): Roquefort (other French blues I like: St Agur, Fourme d’Ambert), Gorgonzola Piccante, Gorgonzola Dolce, good British Stilton. For a good value option, opt for a Danish. If you're blue cheese-shy, Blue Castello is a safe bet - very mild.
- Generally with cheese, you get what you pay for.
- Slicing pears - The slices should not be paper thin, or even so thin they completely "flop". They should have a slight bend when picked up with a fork, as pictured in post. But they should not be so thick that they crack when you stab with a fork!
- Amount to use: 1 1/2 pears is the perfect amount to me for the specified amount of rocket. If you want a more pear forward salad, use more.
- Stop pears browning: If not assembling in 30 min, drizzle lightly with lemon juice to stop them from going brown.
Nutrition Information
Calories
266cal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
9g
(3%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
23g
(35%)
Saturated Fat
6g
(30%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
10g
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
18mg
(6%)
Sodium
509mg
(21%)
Potassium
241mg
(7%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
760IU
(15%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
186mg
(19%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 5- 6 as a side
Amount Per Serving
Calories 266
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 266cal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 9g | 3% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 23g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 10g | 59% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 18mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 509mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 241mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 760IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 186mg | 19% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.