Pear Gorgonzola with Walnuts (Printable)

Sweet pears meet tangy Gorgonzola, crisp greens, and walnuts in honey-balsamic dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or spring mix)
02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced
03 - 3.5 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
04 - 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
05 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)

→ Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified and smooth.
02 - Place mixed salad greens in a large bowl. Drizzle with half the prepared dressing and toss gently to coat evenly.
03 - Arrange pear slices over dressed greens. Sprinkle Gorgonzola crumbles, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries evenly across the top.
04 - Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over salad just before serving. Serve immediately to maintain crisp texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way sweet pears and tangy Gorgonzola dance together is the kind of flavor combination that makes people forget they're eating something healthy
  • You can throw this together in 15 minutes flat but it looks like something from a fancy bistro
  • The honey-balsamic dressing pulls everything together with this perfect balance that I honestly want to put on everything now
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that if you dress this salad too far ahead, the pears start to oxidize and the greens get sad and wilted
  • The trick to restaurant-worthy presentation is slicing those pears as thinly as possible and arranging them intentionally rather than just tossing everything together
03 -
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the sliced pears prevents browning while adding a bright acidity that cuts through the rich cheese
  • Warming your honey for 10 seconds in the microwave makes it easier to whisk into the dressing and incorporates more smoothly
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