Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Rocket Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Rocket, featuring juicy pears, toasted walnuts, peppery arugula, and a tangy honey-Dijon dressing. This easy-to-make salad is perfect as a light lunch or an elegant starter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 1/2 – 2 pears (any type, juicy and ripe; alternatively, nashi pears or sweet apples)
- 3/4 cup walnuts (whole; can substitute with almonds or pecans)
- 120g / 4oz rocket/arugula lettuce
- 120g / 4 oz blue cheese (roquefort, gorgonzola, stilton, or other creamy blue cheese, crumbled into chunks)
Dressing Ingredients
- 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
- Make the Dressing: Combine Dijon mustard, honey, cider vinegar, vegetable or olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well until fully emulsified and smooth.
- Prepare the Pears: Halve the pears and scoop out the core. Place each half cut-side down and slice evenly into 3mm (0.12 inch) thick slices to ensure uniformity and ease of eating.
- Toast the Walnuts: Spread the walnuts evenly on a baking tray and toast them in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 8 minutes or until fragrant and slightly browned. Once toasted, leave some whole and break others in half by hand for texture variation.
- Toss the Rocket: Place the rocket/arugula in a large mixing bowl and add 2 tablespoons of the prepared dressing. Toss gently to evenly coat the leaves without wilting them.
- Assemble the Salad: On a large platter, layer one-third of the dressed rocket, then scatter one-third of the pear slices, walnuts, and blue cheese chunks evenly. Repeat this layering process two more times, building up the salad in three layers. Just before serving, drizzle the remaining dressing over the top to enhance flavor.
Notes
- Note 1: Use a creamy blue cheese that crumbles well, such as roquefort, gorgonzola, or stilton, for the best texture and flavor balance.
- Note 2: Slicing the pears thinly ensures the salad is easy to eat and allows the dressing to coat the fruit evenly.
- You can substitute the walnuts with other nuts like almonds or pecans based on preference or availability.
- To avoid bruising pears, handle slices gently when tossing and assembling.
- Serve immediately after assembling for the freshest taste and texture.
Keywords: pear salad, blue cheese, arugula salad, toasted walnuts, honey mustard dressing
