Pear Stilton Salad With Port Dressing Toasted Walnuts Recipes

PEAR, DATE & WALNUT SALAD WITH CREAMY STILTON DRESSING

Steps:

• Cut the pear quarters into thin slices and toss in a bowl with the lime juice to help protect their natural colour. Blend the crème fraîche with half the stilton, ginger syrup to taste, and enough water (3-4 tbsp) to give a smooth, thick coating consistency. (Don't add too much water or it may separate.)
• Scatter the pear slices over six serving plates and follow with the walnuts, dates and remaining cheese. Can be prepared to this stage up to an hour ahead.
• Drizzle each salad with a little of the dressing and some walnut oil. Season with a grinding of pepper - you shouldn't need salt, as the cheese is salty. Mix the salad leaves and watercress very lightly with just a bit more dressing - some leaves should be touched by the dressing, some untouched. Gently pile the leaves on top of each salad.

WARM STILTON SALAD

Steps:

• Use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to snip the bacon crossways into fat matchsticks. Heat a small, dry frying pan on a medium heat and add the bacon. Cook for about 10 mins, until the fat has run and the bacon is crisp.
• To make the dressing, reduce the heat in the pan to low and stir in 1 tbsp water, then the vinegar, honey and mustard. Stir well, scraping up any residue on the base of the pan. Stir in the oil, taste and season.
• Meanwhile, heat a ridged griddle pan or grill and cook the pears for about 5 mins on each side, until browned. Place in a bowl and mix with the cubes of cheese (this melts the cheese a little, making it nice and squidgy). Tip the spinach into a serving bowl, and scatter the cheese and pear mixture over. Top with the warm bacon dressing and serve immediately.

PEAR & STILTON SALAD WITH PORT DRESSING & TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Toast walnuts in heavy saucepan on med heat.
• Set aside.
• Pour port into same pan nuts were toasted in.
• Boil on med high; simmer to reduce by half its volume.
• Remove from heat& allow to cool.
• Distribute 1 1/2 C greens on each of 4 plates.
• Arrange pear slices over.
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 T cheese on each.
• For dressing: Puree reduced port, shallots, garlic, mustard, vinegar to smooth in blender.
• Pour over salads.
• Top with nuts.

PEAR AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Scatter the rocket leaves onto the plate.
• Top with sliced pear.
• Crumble over the Stilton cheese.
• Scatter over the walnuts.
• Add the mini bruschetta or croutons.
• Add a light drizzle of olive oil.

ENDIVE, PEAR, AND STILTON SALAD

Steps:

• Make dressing:
• Chop shallot and crush star anise. In a blender blend shallot, oil, orange juice, and Port until emulsified. Transfer mixture to a small bowl or jar and add star anise and salt and pepper to taste. Chill dressing, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day. Pour dressing through a sieve into a bowl and discard solids. Whisk dressing until combined well.
• Make salad:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Halve and core pears. Cut pears lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange in one layer on baking sheet. Roast pears in middle of oven until pale golden, about 10 minutes, and cool on baking sheet.
• Separate endive leaves, and, if desired, cut leaves crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-thick pieces.
• On a platter or 4 salad plates arrange pears, endive leaves, and Stilton and drizzle dressing on top. Garnish salad with parsley or chervil.

STILTON AND PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, the mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. In a bowl toss the lettuce with half the dressing and divide the salad among 4 plates. Halve and core the pear and cut it lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange one fourth of the pear slices decoratively on each plate, divide the Stilton and the pecans among the salads, and drizzle the remaining dressing on top.