Watercress Pear And Gorgonzola Salad Food

SWEET PEAR AND GORGONZOLA SALAD WITH ROCKET, WATERCRESS, WALNUTS, AND ORANGE FLOWER HONEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Slice the pears in half lengthwise. Rub each half with a pinch of salt. Put parchment paper on a tray just large enough to hold the pears, and spread the sugar on the paper. There should be a 1/8-inch layer. Put the pear halves cut side down on the sugar and bake for 1 hour. When the pears are cool enough to handle, remove the cores and slice them crosswise into 1/8-inch sections.
• Put the lemon juice in a salad bowl with salt and pepper and mix to dissolve the salt, then whisk in the oil. Arrange the slices of pear 1 pear per plate, in 1 layer in the center of the plate, leaving a 3-inch gap in the center for the watercress and the rocket. Scatter the cheese and then the walnuts over the pears, and then drizzle the honey on top of the walnuts and cheese.
• Put the watercress, rocket, and basil in the salad bowl and toss together. Then place the salad in the center of the pears.
• Garnish with the flowers.

WATERCRESS, PEAR AND GORGONZOLA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the onion, mustard, vinegar, honey, lemon juice and grapeseed oil in a food processor or blender. Purée until onion is very fine. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in olive oil.
• Rinse and dry the watercress. In a large bowl, season watercress with salt and pepper and toss with the dressing. Arrange cheese and fruit on four salad plates and top with watercress.

WATERCRESS, ROCKET, SWEET PEAR, WALNUT AND PARMESAN SALAD

Steps:

• What a pukka combination, simple and classy. Don't try to make this when you feel like it, make it when you can buy perfect pears, otherwise it will taste naff. For 1 person I normally use around 1/2 a pear, 2 big handfuls of watercress and 2 big handfuls of rocket. If the pear skins are nice I just give them a wash, if not I remove them with a peeler. Then cut them in 1/2 and deseed. It doesn't really matter how you cut them up. Sometimes in big rough chunks, maybe sliced up or even grated. Then place into a bowl with the watercress and rocket. The pepperiness of the leaves works so well with the sweetness of the pear. Drizzle with good extra-virgin olive oil just to coat, a small squeeze of lemon juice (because the pear juice is slightly acidic but very tasty), and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss all this together and serve. Shave over Parmesan or pecornio, crumble your nuts over and tuck in. I love this salad with roasted meat or as a starter on its own.

PEAR & GORGONZOLA SALAD

Steps:

• To make Vinaigrette------------------.
• Mix vinegar, salt, mustard in a blender or food processor.
• Very slowly pour in the oil while processor is on.
• Process until an emulsion forms.
• Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Add shallots& pepper.
• Best to make it fresh but may be stored for a few days in the fridge.
• ---Salad-----------------------.
• Toss greens with most of the vinaigrette.
• Divide among 4 plates.
• Decorate with pear slices and crumbled cheese.
• Coarsely chop the walnuts and put on top of salad.
• Drizzle the last of the vinaigrette over top.

PAN-ROASTED PEAR SALAD WITH WATERCRESS, PARMESAN AND PECANS

Steps:

• The success to the best salads is to first chill your serving plates. Place salad plates or bowls in the refrigerator while preparing. Simple as that.
• Toss the pears, 2 teaspoons of the sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.
• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the pears cut side down in a single layer and cook until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Using a small spatula or fork, tip each pear onto its second cut side; continue to cook until the second side is light brown, 2 to 4 minutes longer. Turn off the heat, leave the skillet on the burner and add 2 tablespoons of the balsamic vinegar; gently stir until the vinegar becomes glazed and coats the pears, about 30 seconds. Transfer the pears to a large plate and let cool to room temperature, about 45 minutes. Cut each pear quarter crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon sugar and shallot together in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add the lettuce, watercress and cooled pears to the bowl; toss and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the salad among individual chilled plates; top each with portions of the cheese and nuts.

GRILLED GORGONZOLA, PEAR, AND WATERCRESS SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Cut cheese into thin slices. Halve pear lengthwise and core with a lemon-ball cutter. Slice pear thin crosswise.
• On a baking sheet toast both sides of bread about 3 inches from heat until golden. Divide watercress among toasts and cover with overlapping pear slices. Arrange cheese over pear slices and broil sandwiches until cheese is melted, about 1 minute.

ENDIVE AND GORGONZOLA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a shallow baking pan toast walnuts in middle of oven until fragrant, about 10 minutes, and cool. Chop walnuts.
• In a small bowl whisk together vinegars and 1/2 teaspoon honey and add oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
• Separate 4 outer leaves from each endive and arrange 3 leaves on each of 4 plates. Cut remaining endive crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and put in a large bowl. Peel apple and using a mandoline or other manual slicer cut thin slices lengthwise from 4 sides, stopping just before core. Make small stacks of slices and cut stacks into thin julienne strips.
• Toss sliced endive with dressing and divide among plates, mounding on whole leaves. Top salads with Gorgonzola, walnuts, apple, chives, and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle remaining 2 teaspoons honey over salads.

WATERCRESS, FRISEE, AND PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, in a small bowl or jar, whisk or shake vinegar and oil until thick and combined; season with salt and pepper. (Dressing can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, covered.)
• Place nuts on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine watercress, frisee, pears, and dressing; toss gently to coat. Divide among plates; sprinkle with walnut pieces.