(4 servings)
This salad has the perfect blend of flavors. The sweetness of the pears is balanced by the exquisite flavors of the Roquefort, hazelnuts, and the olive oil.
Ingredients:
- 4 Bosc pears unpeeled
- Organic Baby Spring mix
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted, peeled and chopped into coarse chunks
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup Roquefort, or Gorgonzola, cheese crumbled
- Vinaigrette:
- 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp shallots, minced
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 1/4 tsp brown sugar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F. In a sheet pan, toast the hazelnuts for 10-15 minutes (be careful since they can burn easily). After they are cooled, rub with fingers, or with a cloth, so as to take off the skin (it doesn’t matter if it does not come off completely on some). Chop the hazelnuts until they are coarse chunks.
- Wash mixed greens and place in a bowl with chilled water for about 3 minutes, so that they become crisp and turn a bright, intense green. Take out to drain, and then carefully pat them dry.
- In another bowl, mix the extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, and set aside.
- Slice the pears, with peel, on the mandolin.
- Place the pears in the bowl with the premade olive oil seasoning and mix, so as to prevent the pears from oxidation.
- In a small pan mix, with a metal whisk, olive oil, salt, vinegar, honey, pepper and the brown sugar to make the vinaigrette. Add the shallots, mix and leave to rest until it is used.
- Drain the soaked pears from the olive oil mixture.
- Place on a serving plate in a circle, leaving some space in the center for the mixed greens.
- Place the mixed greens in another bowl and mix well with a little of the vinaigrette; add more to taste, but do not let them get soaked.
- Place mixed greens in the center of the serving plate.
- Sprinkle the salad with the hazelnut chunks and the crumbled Roquefort cheese. Serve immediately.
Recommendations:
In case you do not have shallots, replace with onions.
