Asian Pear Salad with Tamari Pecans and Maytag Blue Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons pear or cider vinegar
- 4 teaspoons Pear Syrup, recipe follows
- 1 teaspoon Extra-Virgin O Lemon Oil or unflavored extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 cups mixed bitter salad greens, such as baby mustard, lovage, arugula, dandelion, and mizuna
- 1/4 cup chopped tamari pecans, recipe follows
- 1/4 cup dried currants or chopped raisins
- 1/4 cup crumbled chilled blue cheese (recommended: Maytag)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ripe Asian pear, cored, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 cups pear juice
- 1 tablespoon tamari sauce
- 2 teaspoons molasses
- Cayenne pepper and salt
- 1 cup pecan halves
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Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and syrup. Whisk in the oil and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the greens, pecans and currants. Sprinkle with the cheese and season lightly with salt and pepper. Whisk the dressing again and drizzle it over the salad.
- Toss the salad gently and briefly; you do not want the cheese to crumble any further and clump together.
- Divide the salad among 4 chilled salad plates. Fan the pear slices over each serving.
- Put the pear juice in a saucepan and set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and skim the thick foam that rises to the surface.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer very gently, skimming occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the juice reduces to the consistency of maple syrup.
- Let cool to room temperature. Use now or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a shallow bowl, stir the tamari and molasses together to blend. Season with cayenne and salt, to taste.
- Add the pecans and toss until they are coated. Transfer the pecans to a clean kitchen towel and let drain briefly.
- Spread the pecans on a wire rack set on a baking sheet and roast for about 10 minutes, or until fairly dry and toasted.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the rack. Chop the pecans into 1/4-inch pieces.
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