Poached Pear Salad With Blue Cheese And Champagne Vinaigrette Recipes

FRESH POACHED PEAR, TOASTED PECAN AND BLEU CHEESE SALAD WITH PEAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To assemble salad, wash lettuce well and drain until very dry. Toss leaves in the Pear Vinaigrette in a salad bowl. Add the bleu cheese and pecans.
• Place a mound of lettuce on each of 4 plates. Serve with 1/2 a Poached Pear.
• Peel pears, leaving stems intact and trimming bottom to "seat" them firmly in bottom of large stockpot.
• Into the stockpot, add the wine, water, sugar, vanilla bean, star anise, lemon and orange peels, and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from stove and let cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Reserve 1/4 cup of poaching liquid for the vinaigrette.
• Place ingredients in large bowl and whisk together. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

POACHED PEAR SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE AND CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• PEARS:.
• Bring first 5 ingredients to boil in large wide saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Add pear halves, cut side down. Return syrup to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered until pears are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely.
• DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Drain pears.
• Leaving top 1 inch intact (at narrow end), cut each pear half lengthwise into thin slices.
• Gently press on pear halves to fan slightly.
• VINAIGRETTE AND SALAD:.
• Whisk shallot, vinegar, and mustard in small bowl to blend.
• Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil.
• Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Place greens in large bowl. Toss with enough vinaigrette to coat.
• Mound greens on plates.
• Arrange 1 pear half atop greens on each plate.
• Sprinkle with walnuts and cheese.
• Drizzle with more vinaigrette, if desired, and serve.