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Pear Cranberry Salad with Blue Cheese

A beautiful fall salad! The perfect combination of crisp pear, creamy cheese, tart cranberries and sweet and spicy pecans!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 5 oz fresh spinach or spring mix
  • 4 oz blue cheese, crumbled
  • 1 cup sliced fresh pear
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 3/4 cup pecan halves
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • pinch cayenne pepper

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, about one lemon
  • 1/2 cup Good olive oil
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper

Instructions
 

For the Pecans

  • In a small cast iron or non-stick skillet melt butter and add pecans, honey, brown sugar, salt and cayenne.
  • Stir continuously over low heat until all sugar is melted onto nuts. Careful not to burn. About 5-8 minutes.
  • Remove from pan and place on parchment paper to cool.

For the Dressing

  • Add all ingredients to a small jar with lid and shake to emulsify. If you aren't using a jar, place all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined well.

Build the Salad

  • In a large bowl, add salad greens and toss with 3/4 of the dressing.
  • Plate the greens and place pears, cranberries, pecans and blue cheese on each. Top with remaining dressing and a drizzle of balsamic if desired.
Keyword blue cheese, cranberry, pear, pecans