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AUTUMN PEAR SALAD

AUTUMN PEAR SALAD

Posted by http://www.market71.com/autumn-pear-salad-free-recipe-below/ on 18th Oct 2014


Yield: 5 servings

Ingredients

Balsamic Vinaigrette

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp finely diced shallot
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad

  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 Tbsp salted butter
  • 1 Tbsp packed light-brown sugar
  • 7 oz Spring Salad & Spinach blend
  • 2 oz parmesan cheese, shaved
  • 2 Red Anjou Pears, sliced thin (Bartlett pears work fine too)
  • 1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries

Directions

  • For the vinaigrette:
  • To a blender add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, diced shallot and season with salt and pepper to taste (I used a 1/4 +1/8 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper). Blend mixture until well emulsified, about 20 seconds. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to serve.
  • For the salad and candied walnuts:
  • In a medium skillet melt butter along with brown sugar over medium heat. Once mixture has melted add walnuts and cook, stirring constantly until caramelized, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate in a single layer to cool.
  • Layer lettuce and pears in a large bowl and toss with dressing, then top with parmesan, dried cranberries and candied pecans and serve (alternately just layer all the salad ingredients then drizzle with dressing. Note: top this salad with dressing just before serving as it will wilt the lettuces after a while).
  • Recipe Source: adapted slightly from a recipe from a friend, Audrey MacKay (thanks again Audrey!) whom adapted it from a Cookbook titled "Favorites" by Grace Ivory Rock and Jane Ivory Metcalf