Composed Salad Of Fennel Oven Dried Pears And Maytag Blue Cheese Recipes

PEAR FENNEL AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE

Steps:

• Combine vinegar, wine and sugar in a heavy, large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil until syrupy and reduced to 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Slice fennel bulb paper thin, using a mandoline, a very sharp knife or a food processor slicing disk. Toss fennel with olive oil and salt to taste.
• To serve, spread a bed of fennel evenly on each of six salad plates. Quarter and core pears and arrange quarters on each plate. Distribute pieces of cheese equally among plates, grind fresh black pepper liberally over each and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve immediately.

ASIAN PEAR SALAD WITH TAMARI PECANS AND MAYTAG BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the pear vinegar and pear syrup in a small mixing bowl. Whisk in the lemon-o and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the greens, tamari pecans, and currants. Sprinkle over with the blue cheese, then drizzle over with the dressing. Toss the salad gently and briefly, as you do not want the cheese crumbles to begin sticking together. Divide the salad onto the center of 2 chilled salad plates and garnish by fanning the pear slices around each salad.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the tamari and molasses. Season, to taste, with salt and cayenne pepper. Toss with the pecans until they are well coated. Transfer the pecans onto a kitchen towel and allow to briefly drain. Roast the pecans on an icing rack until the pecans are fairly dry and toasted. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Chop the pecans into 1/4-inch pieces.

ASIAN PEAR SALAD WITH TAMARI PECANS AND MAYTAG BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• 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.

FENNEL-CELERY SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 5-8 minutes; let cool.
• Finely chop 1 shallot half, then thinly slice the other half crosswise; set sliced shallot aside. Combine chopped shallot, mustard, sugar, and 1/4 cup vinegar in a resealable jar. Add oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover and shake to emulsify; set vinaigrette aside.
• Toss figs, reserved sliced shallot, and remaining 1/4 cup vinegar in a small bowl; let sit until figs and shallots are softened, at least 30 minutes.
• Just before serving, toss fennel, celery, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts in a large bowl. Drain figs and shallot and add to bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper.
• Do Ahead
• Vinaigrette can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Figs and shallot can be soaked 4 hours ahead; store covered at room temperature. Fennel and celery can be sliced 4 hours ahead; place in a large bowl. Cover with a damp paper towel and chill.

ROASTED FENNEL AND PEAR SALAD WITH BASALMIC-PEAR DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 °F. Arrange pears, cut side up, in 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish; add fennel. Drizzle olive oil and chicken broth over pears and fennel. Roast 10 minutes. Turn pears and fennel over and roast until pears are just tender, about 5 minutes longer. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to plate. Continue roasting fennel until tender, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer fennel to plate with pears, reserving any cooking liquid. Thinly slice fennel and 2 pear halves lengthwise. Cool completely.
• Peel remaining 2 pear halves. Transfer peeled pears to processor. Add reserved cooking liquid and vinegar to processor and blend until very smooth. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
• Divide greens among 4 plates. Top with fennel and pear slices. Drizzle some dressing over each salad. Serve, passing remaining dressing separately.

COMPOSED SALAD PALOISE

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette by whisking together ingredients. Set aside. Drizzle the asparagus and celery root with the vinaigrette, just before serving. Place the lettuce leaves around the edges of the salad platter. Arrange artichokes, asparagus and celery root over lettuce. Dribble vinaigrette over all and sprinkle with herbs.