Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Tamarind Vinaigrette

This salad has bold flavours - bitter, sweet, salty and a citrus tang. The tamarind is the secret ingredient in the dressing.

Yield:
serves 4
Category:
Salads and Dressings
Cuisine:
Canadian

INGREDIENTS:

  • Tamarind Vinaigrette
  • 1/4 cup sweet pear or apple cider
  • 1/4 cup good quality olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon walnut oil
  • 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 large pears (Anjou or Bartlett), Halved lengthwise, cored and cut into slices
  • 4 cups frisee lettuce leaves
  • 1/2 cup red or green seedless grapes
  • 1/2 cup toasted walnut halves or pieces
  • 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, such as Okanagan Tiger Blue

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Tamarind Vinaigrette
    In a small bowl, whisk together the cider, olive and walnut oils, tamarind and honey until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Blue Cheese Salad
    In a small skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and butter. Add the pear slices and cook until golden on both sides. Remove from heat and set aside.
  3. Place frisee, grapes, and walnuts in a large bowl and toss with 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette. Season well with salt and pepper.
  4. Divide salad onto plates and top each with pear slices. Garnish with the blue cheese and serve.

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