Poached Pear Salad With Blue Cheese And Champagne Vinaigrette Food

FRESH POACHED PEAR, TOASTED PECAN AND BLEU CHEESE SALAD WITH PEAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To assemble salad, wash lettuce well and drain until very dry. Toss leaves in the Pear Vinaigrette in a salad bowl. Add the bleu cheese and pecans.
• Place a mound of lettuce on each of 4 plates. Serve with 1/2 a Poached Pear.
• Peel pears, leaving stems intact and trimming bottom to "seat" them firmly in bottom of large stockpot.
• Into the stockpot, add the wine, water, sugar, vanilla bean, star anise, lemon and orange peels, and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from stove and let cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Reserve 1/4 cup of poaching liquid for the vinaigrette.
• Place ingredients in large bowl and whisk together. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

POACHED PEAR SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE AND CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• PEARS:.
• Bring first 5 ingredients to boil in large wide saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Add pear halves, cut side down. Return syrup to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered until pears are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely.
• DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Drain pears.
• Leaving top 1 inch intact (at narrow end), cut each pear half lengthwise into thin slices.
• Gently press on pear halves to fan slightly.
• VINAIGRETTE AND SALAD:.
• Whisk shallot, vinegar, and mustard in small bowl to blend.
• Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil.
• Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Place greens in large bowl. Toss with enough vinaigrette to coat.
• Mound greens on plates.
• Arrange 1 pear half atop greens on each plate.
• Sprinkle with walnuts and cheese.
• Drizzle with more vinaigrette, if desired, and serve.

PEAR AND POMEGRANATE SALAD WITH GORGONZOLA AND CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a decorative bowl or platter, add the spinach or romaine. Cut the pear into fans, and then slice again on the diagonal, add the greens, crumble the Gorgonzola onto the salad and then drizzle with about half of the vinaigrette. Top with fresh cracked pepper and lightly drizzle the whole salad with the honey. Serve immediately.
• In a small bowl or glass jar, add all the ingredients except the olive oil. Mix well, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.

GRIDDLED PEAR & BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Put the pears in a bowl and drizzle with 1 tsp of the oil. Heat a griddle pan, then cook the pears, in batches, for 1 min on each side. Set aside to cool.
• Mix the remaining oil, vinegar and honey. Toss the pears, leaves and cheese, divide between 4 plates and drizzle with the dressing. Serve with bread, if you like.

POACHED PEARS WITH WINE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Trim flat the bottoms of pears, and stand them upright in the bottom of a large stock pot. Pour the wine and water into the pot, and turn the flame to high heat. Sprinkle with sugar, and add vanilla bean, star anise, cinnamon stick, and lemon and orange peels. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes. Remove pot from stove, and let cool completely. Reserve 1/4 cup poaching liquid. Transfer pears to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate.
• Place 2 poached pears in a blender or food processor, and puree. Remove to a large bowl. Whisk in walnut oil, red wine vinegar, and reserved poaching liquid. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover, and refrigerate.
• Place pears in individual bowls, and top with sauce.

PEAR & BLUE CHEESE WALNUT SALAD W/ PEAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Halve and core the pears. Slice thin, brush with lemon juice to prevent browning. This may be done up to 60 minutes ahead.
• To arrange the salads: line plates with salad greens.
• Fan pear slices atop each serving.
• Sprinkle with some blue cheese and candied nuts.
• Drizzle with dressing. Serve extra on the side.
• CANDIED WALNUTS / PECANS.
• Line a baking sheet with foil. Butter or spray with a nonstick oil.
• In a heavy skillet, over medium heat, combine: 1 C walnuts, 1/2 C sugar and 2 T butter.
• Cook until sugar starts to melt, DO NOT stir. Reduce heat to low and cook 'til sugar is golden brown. Stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and pour onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Break into clusters.
• PEAR NECTAR VINAIGRETTE.
• In a screw top jar, combine:
• white wine vinegar, oil, pear nectar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper.
• Cover and shake well.
• Store in refrigerator for up to one week.
• Shake before serving.
• Makes about 1°C.

PEAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Blend the pear, white wine, garlic, Dijon mustard, white balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and sea salt in a blender until well combined; drizzle the olive oil into the mixture in a thin, steady stream while continuing to blend. Blend a few seconds longer until the salad dressing is thick and creamy.