Pear Cucumber Salad With Balsamic And Shaved Romano Cheese Recipes

ROASTED PEAR AND HOT HOUSE CUCUMBER AMUSE BOUCHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cover the bottom of a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Rinse the pears, pat dry and put on a baking sheet. Cover with additional foil and roast the pears for 1 hour. Peel the pears and cut them in half.
• On a cutting board, cut out 12 circles from the pear halves, using a 1/2-inch circle cutter. Avoid the seeds. Shave off excess pear to make sure all of the circles are the same height. I suggest you make them a 1/2-inch high.
• Put the pear circles into large serving spoons. Pour some Champagne over the pears and sprinkle with cinnamon. Arrange some diced cucumber on top of each pear circle and serve.

PEAR CUCUMBER SALAD WITH BALSAMIC AND SHAVED ROMANO CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine pears, cucumber, vinegar, parsley, and oil. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Using a vegetable peeler, shave Romano over top before serving.
• Spoon over crisp romaine lettuce.

PAN-FRIED BALSAMIC PEAR SALAD WITH PANCETTA, GORGONZOLA AND A WARM HONEY DRESSING

Steps:

• Distribute the arugula evenly among four serving plates.
• Put the pancetta into a medium skillet over medium-high heat and cook until really crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Put 2 tablespoons butter and the oil into the skillet and reduce the heat to low. When the butter has melted, place the pears in the pan and season with salt and pepper and 2 tablespoons honey. Turn up the heat to medium and cook until the pears are lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon vinegar and cook for another minute. Remove the pears from the pan, reserving any juices that may be left.
• Arrange the pears and pancetta on top of the arugula so each serving has 4 pear quarters and 4 slices pancetta.
• Put the pan back on medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, remaining 1 tablespoon honey, remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, mustard, pine nuts, salt and pepper. Cook briefly until the dressing is heated through. Pour the dressing over the salads, then scatter over the gorgonzola crumbles. Serve immediately.