Spinach Salad With Pears Walnuts And Goat Cheese Food

ARUGULA SALAD WITH PEARS, GOAT CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender or mini food processor until very smooth.
• Put the greens in a large bowl or on a platter. Top with the remaining ingredients.
• Drizzle with 2 or 3 tablespoons of the dressing and toss gently to coat. Serve the salad with additional dressing to taste on the side.

SPINACH SALAD WITH PEARS, WALNUTS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Chop 1 pear and slice remaining two.
• Put chopped pear, oil, vinegar, mustard and honey into a blender and purée.
• Transfer to a small bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons water, more if needed, to thin for a pourable dressing.
• Put spinach, onion, walnuts, goat cheese, sliced pears and dressing into a large bowl and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.
• Three Twists on the OriginalApple Cheddar Spinach SaladReplace pears with apples, walnuts with pine nuts and goat cheese with small cubes of sharp cheddar. Quinoa Spinach Pear SaladAdd 1 cup cooked and cooled quinoa to spinach salad mixture.Fig Spinach SaladReplace pears with 3/4 cup dried figs (1/4 cup chopped for dressing, remainder sliced thinly in salad).

SPINACH SALAD WITH PERSIMMONS, GOAT CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Peel the persimmons, and cut in wedges; if there are any seeds at the core, cut away the cores. Combine with the walnuts, goat cheese and spinach in a salad bowl.
• Whisk together the lime juice, salt and walnut oil. Toss with the spinach mixture, and serve, sprinkling a tiny amount of fleur de sel over each serving if desired.

WARM GOAT CHEESE SALAD WITH PEARS AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Mix breadcrumbs and thyme in glass pie dish. Season goat cheese with salt and pepper. Dip cheese into beaten egg, then into breadcrumbs, coating completely. cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead.)
• Whisk vinegar and mustard in small bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Combine mixed greens, Belgian endive and pears in large bowl.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add walnuts and sauté until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to plate using slotted spoon. Reduce heat to medium. Working in batches, add cheese rounds to skillet and cook until crisp and brown on outside and soft on inside, about 2 minutes per side.
• Toss salad with enough dressing to coat. Divide among 4 plates. Using metal spatula, place 2 cheese rounds in center of each salad. Sprinkle with walnuts.

BABY SPINACH, PEAR AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Place the honey and vinegar in a medium bowl and stir until well combined; cut the pears lenghtways into 1cm-thick pieces and toss in the honey mixture.
• Cook the pears on a heated, oiled grill pan or BBQ hotplate on one side for 1 minute or until golden; remove and set aside to cool.
• Toss the walnuts in the remaining honey and balsamic vinegar mixture, and cook on a heated oiled grill pan, turning frequently, for 2 minutes or until golden brown; set aside to cool.
• FETA DRESSING: Place the milk and rosemary in a small saucepan and bring to the boil; remove and cool; discard the rosemary; place the feta in a medium bowl and gradually whisk in the milk, a little at a time until it forms a smooth paste, whik in the oil and season to taste.
• SERVING: Place the pears and walnuts in a large bowl, add the baby spinach leaves and chives, pour over the feta dressing, toss well and serve.
• NOTES: Corella pears are named after the colourful Australian Corella parrot. They are a type of pear which was first developed by the German settlers who settled the Barossa Valley, in South Australia, in the 1840s. Corella pears are soft skinned, golden and red: really beautiful. As my mother said, they look as if they belong in a still life painting. They lose this colour when cooked, but they come out a beautiful golden brown, and they are so, so deliciously sweet. if you are familiar with Fuji apples, in taste and appearance, they are their cousins. I'm planning to make this salad next time with half Corella pears and half Fuji apples.

PEAR-AND-SPINACH SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place spinach in a salad bowl.
• Toss pear slices with lemon juice and add to bowl.
• Place remaining ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Toss vinaigrette with salad.