Indulge in a culinary symphony of flavors with our exquisite Bacon, Pear, and Blue Cheese Salad. This tantalizing dish tantalizes the taste buds with a harmonious blend of sweet, savory, and tangy notes. Crispy bacon adds a smoky crunch, while juicy pears provide a refreshing sweetness. Creamy blue cheese crumbles introduce a distinct piquancy, creating a captivating contrast against the crisp lettuce. A drizzle of tangy balsamic vinaigrette ties all the elements together, resulting in a salad that is both visually stunning and utterly delectable.
Embark on a culinary journey as we delve into the intricacies of this exceptional salad. Discover the art of selecting the perfect ingredients, from choosing ripe pears to finding the creamiest blue cheese. Learn the secrets of achieving the perfect balance of flavors, ensuring that each ingredient shines through without overpowering the others. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook seeking culinary inspiration, this recipe will guide you every step of the way.
In addition to the main recipe, we'll also explore delightful variations to suit every palate. Transform the salad into a hearty main course by adding grilled chicken or shrimp. Create a vegetarian version by substituting tofu or tempeh for the bacon. Experiment with different types of greens, nuts, and cheeses to create a salad that truly reflects your unique taste preferences.
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and impress your dinner guests with this extraordinary Bacon, Pear, and Blue Cheese Salad. With its perfect balance of flavors and textures, it's a dish that will leave an unforgettable impression. So, gather your ingredients, don your apron, and embark on a culinary adventure that will redefine your perception of salads.
PEAR AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD
This salad brings together ingredients that really enhance each other, and the dressing packs a perfect punch with maple syrup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. It's a favorite in my family!
Provided by SPERL25
Categories Salad Green Salad Recipes
Time 15m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place the salad greens in a large bowl. Add the red onion, pear, pecans, and blue cheese, and toss to mix evenly.
- To make the dressing, place the maple syrup, vinegar, mayonnaise, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a blender, and blend thoroughly. With the motor running, slowly pour in the walnut oil. Blend until mixture becomes creamy, about 1 minute. Pour over salad mixture, and toss to coat greens evenly. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 397.1 calories, Carbohydrate 25.3 g, Cholesterol 15.4 mg, Fat 30.2 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 8 g, SaturatedFat 5.8 g, Sodium 630.7 mg, Sugar 17.9 g
BACON, PEAR, AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD
Seckel pears and shallots, caramelized in the oven, are placed on watercress and sprinkled with crisp bacon. The dressing is a tart, syrupy reduction of pure apple cider. Blue cheese on croutons is served alongside.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place cider in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Cider should have a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat, and keep warm.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Make croutons: Place bread slices on a baking sheet, and brush with 4 tablespoons butter. Toast until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
- Cut pears in half; remove seeds with a small melon baller, and discard. Place pears in a medium bowl. Squeeze lemon juice over, and toss to combine. Add shallots to bowl. Drizzle with remaining 4 tablespoons melted butter; sprinkle with sugar, salt, and pepper; and toss to coat. Place in roasting pan, pears cut side down. Roast until golden brown and soft when pierced with a knife, 35 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and gently with a wooden spoon.
- While pears are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and saute until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; set aside. Remove pears and shallots from pan, and keep warm.
- Arrange watercress on six serving plates, top with warm pear mixture, and sprinkle with bacon. Place two croutons with a piece of blue cheese on each plate. Drizzle reduced cider over salad. Serve immediately.
CAESAR SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE AND BACON
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Arrange the bacon in a single layer on a baking rack set on a sheet pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until browned. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and, when cool enough to handle, cut in large pieces. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, place the eggs in a large saucepan and cover them with cold tap water. Bring the water to a boil, turn off the heat and allow them to sit for exactly 3 1/2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the saucepan and immediately place them in a bowl of cold water for exactly 2 minutes. Peel the eggs and slice them in half lengthwise.
- Arrange the bread slices on a sheet pan and brush the tops with olive oil. Toast in the oven along with the bacon for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown. Cool for one minute, then rub each toast with the cut side of the garlic clove. Set aside.
- Place the lettuce leaves on a rectangular platter and arrange the bacon pieces over the lettuce. Place the blue cheese shards on top and then the halves of soft-boiled eggs. Drizzle with the dressing, sprinkle with salt and pepper and place the garlic toasts over the top. Serve at room temperature with extra dressing on the side.
- Place the egg yolk, mustard, garlic, anchovies (if using), lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until smooth. With the food processor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube and process until thick. Add the Parmesan and pulse 3 times to combine.
- "Make it Ahead" by Ina Garten © Clarkson Potter 2014. Provided courtesy of Ina Garten. All rights reserved.
PEAR, BLUE CHEESE, WALNUT AND BACON SALAD
A fresh change of taste. The amount of servings depends on the additions and naturally, whether it's served as a side or main meal.
Provided by gailanng
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 23m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients until well blended; set aside.
- In a small frying pan set on a medium heat, melt the butter, stir in the maple syrup or honey and then stir in the walnuts. Continue to heat the walnuts, stirring continuously, for approximately 2-3 minutes or until they are fragrant, caramelized and lightly browned. Remove from the heat; set aside.
- Place the greens in a large salad bowl or, if individual servings are preferred, distribute them equally among 6 salad plates. Sprinkle over the pears, blue cheese and walnuts. Place over chicken then drizzle with dressing and toss.
- Note: I find having the chicken warmed is superior to cold chicken.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 354.6, Fat 29.1, SaturatedFat 6.6, Cholesterol 16.9, Sodium 312.9, Carbohydrate 19.3, Fiber 4.7, Sugar 11, Protein 8.7
BLUE-CHEESE-PEAR-PECAN SALAD
Steps:
- Mix the pears, cheese, pecans and romaine in a medium-sized salad bowl.
- For the dressing; stir together the vinegar, garlic, basil, honey, salt, and pepper and then add oil slowly in a small bowl with wire whisk. Toss the dressing with the salad just before serving.
PEAR AND FRISEE SALAD WITH BACON AND BLUE CHEESE
The classic combination of pear and blue cheese is made even richer with the addition of bacon in this hearty salad. You can substitute endive, escarole, or baby arugula in place of the frisee.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a small skillet, cook bacon over medium, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 9 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Add 2 tablespoons bacon drippings to a large bowl. (If drippings measure less than 2 tablespoons, supplement with oil.) Whisk in lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Add frisee, pears, and parsley to bowl and toss to combine. Sprinkle salad with bacon and cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 145 g, Fat 7 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 6 g, SaturatedFat 4 g
SPINACH SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE AND BACON
Make and share this Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese and Bacon recipe from Food.com.
Provided by evelynathens
Categories Spinach
Time 20m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Whisk together lemon juice, mustard and season to taste.
- Add oil in a thin stream, whisking, until dressing is emulsified.
- In a bowl, combine spinach, mushrooms, bacon, eggs, onion, blue cheese and dressing.
- Toss salad gently, until combined well.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 501.7, Fat 43.2, SaturatedFat 13.2, Cholesterol 222.7, Sodium 780.9, Carbohydrate 11.1, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 3.8, Protein 20.2
BLUE CHEESE, BACON AND PEAR BRUNCH SANDWICHES
The original idea for this came from a friend. I varied the type of cheese and bread, and added a finishing step to create these tasty little sandwiches. I used low-sodium bacon, however, I think any bacon would work well. Served with a side salad of mixed greens and fresh berries, this makes a great brunch or light supper sandwich.
Provided by HARLEAGHSGIRL
Categories Breakfast and Brunch Meat and Seafood Bacon
Time 25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Place the pear slices in a skillet, and pour in the apple juice. Cook over medium heat until the pears are soft, about 5 minutes. Drain pears and reserve; discard juice.
- Meanwhile, place the bacon in a skillet and cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside.
- Preheat the oven broiler.
- Place the focaccia bread slices on a baking sheet. Divide the pear slices evenly among the bread, and top evenly with the bacon, and then with the blue cheese.
- Broil the sandwiches in the preheated broiler until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 366.2 calories, Carbohydrate 31.7 g, Cholesterol 47.1 mg, Fat 19.2 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 16.9 g, SaturatedFat 10.1 g, Sodium 1083 mg, Sugar 14 g
BACON AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD WITH CAESAR DRESSING
Provided by Dodie Thompson
Categories Salad Leafy Green Quick & Easy Blue Cheese Bacon Fall Bon Appétit St. Louis Missouri
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- To make the salad:
- Place first 3 ingredients in large bowl. Add enough dressing to season to taste and toss well. Garnish salad with croutons and serve.
- To make the easy caesar dressing:
- Combine all ingredients in blender or processor. Blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
- To make the garlic croutons
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter with olive oil and garlic in small saucepan. Place bread cubes on baking sheet. Pour butter mixture over and toss well. Bake until bread cubes are golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Cool completely. (Croutons can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store at room temperature in airtight container.)
- Makes about 3 cups.
Tips:
- To save time, use pre-cooked bacon or cook it in the oven.
- If you don't have blue cheese, you can substitute another type of cheese, such as feta or goat cheese.
- If you don't have walnuts, you can substitute another type of nut, such as pecans or almonds.
- To make the dressing ahead of time, whisk all of the ingredients together and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a more flavorful salad, use a variety of lettuces, such as romaine, arugula, and spinach.
- To add a bit of sweetness to the salad, add a few slices of apple or pear.
- For a more savory salad, add a few slices of hard-boiled egg or crumbled bacon.
Conclusion:
Bacon, pear, and blue cheese salad is a delicious and easy-to-make salad that is perfect for any occasion. With its combination of sweet, savory, and salty flavors, this salad is sure to please everyone. So next time you're looking for a new salad recipe, give this one a try!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love