Description
A fresh and flavorful Pear and Gorgonzola Salad featuring a tangy pear vinaigrette dressing, paired with crisp mixed greens, sweet pears, crunchy walnuts, and creamy Gorgonzola cheese for a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Ready in just 15 minutes, this salad is ideal for a light lunch or an elegant side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 can (15 ounces) pear halves, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Salad
- 6 cups torn mixed salad greens
- 2 medium pears, sliced
- 1 medium tomato, seeded and finely chopped
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
- Coarsely ground pepper, optional
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a blender, combine the white wine vinegar, drained pear halves, and salt. Cover and blend until the mixture is smooth. While the blender is running, slowly pour in the olive oil in a steady stream to emulsify the dressing, creating a creamy and flavorful vinaigrette.
- Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the torn mixed salad greens, sliced medium pears, finely chopped tomato, chopped walnuts, and crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. Drizzle the desired amount of pear dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly, ensuring every bite is flavorful.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately, topped with coarsely ground pepper if desired for added flavor and a hint of spice.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm pears for the best texture and flavor in the salad.
- The dressing can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; re-whisk before serving.
- To make this salad vegetarian, ensure that the Gorgonzola cheese you use contains no animal rennet.
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for variation in crunch and taste.
- For a lighter option, use a lighter olive oil or reduce the amount used in the dressing.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pear salad, gorgonzola salad, mixed greens, pear vinaigrette, walnut salad, quick salad recipe, healthy salad
