Crisp and Sweet Pear Gorgonzola Salad
This sweet and crunchy Pear Gorgonzola green salad recipe tastes extra special with pure maple syrup.
I’m a salad-loving girl. Lettuce in all it’s forms just makes me happy! This fairly new-to-me salad recipe is a great addition to the ever-growing salad section in my recipe box. Because we boil our own maple syrup each year, this salad tastes extra special, knowing it comes from our yard. Definitely give this Crisp and Sweet Pear Gorgonzola Salad recipe a try!
Today I’m joining my Pinterest Challenge friends, organized by Cindy at County Road 407. Instead of our regularly scheduled decorating ideas, we’re sending our favorite Thanksgiving recipes your way today! Get ready to have your mouth water!
If you’re visiting from The House on Silverado, don’t Niky’s Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts sound delicious? I may love doughnuts as much as salad…so they balance each other out, right? I’ll have links to all the rest of the Thanksgiving recipes at the end.
Crisp and Sweet Pear Gorgonzola Salad
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The Love of a Crunchy Salad
Don’t tell anyone, but the traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu is not my favorite:( Turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, even sweet potatoes, leave my mouth yearning for something crunchy. My teeth need a little more action than all soft foods;)
Plus, I’ve only hosted Thanksgiving a couple times and don’t usually have control over the menu. I just sign up to bring something to share. And guess what I usually choose? A salad. Because then I can guarantee my mouth will have something crunchy to balance out all the mushy foods. (now my relatives know my secret ;0 )
This salad recipe is fairly new to me and I’ve already shared it with quite a few who loved it, too. Because we live in a yard full of maple trees, our homemade syrup can be the star of this salad. Of course you can use whatever pure maple syrup you choose. Along with the pears, the yummy gorgonzola or blue cheese and the sweet nuts, this salad has a definite harvest taste.
Of course, once you try a maple syrup roasted pecan (or walnut), you may be addicted. Make extra to snack on!
Salad Ingredients
Vinaigrette dressing
- 1 cup virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh apple cider vinegar (the kind you need to keep in the frig.)
- 1/2 pure maple syrup
- 1/2 shallot, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Salad
- Mix of field greens and kale
- 1 cup gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles
- 1 cup toasted nuts ( preferably maple pecans or walnuts)
- 2-3 sliced or cut up ripe, fresh pears
Directions
- As an extra treat, make maple pecans or walnuts. Drizzle pure maple syrup over nuts and mix to coat. Place on parchment paper in a single layer on sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7 minutes. Cool. (Try not to snack on them;)
- Make salad dressing. Mix together olive oil, cider vinegar, maple syrup, minced shallots and salt and pepper.
- Fill large serving bowl or individual bowls with lettuce greens with a balanced mix of kale and softer lettuce (like Spring Mix).
- On top of greens, layer cooled nuts, gorgonzola (or blue cheese) crumbles and bite sized cut pears. Cut in small pieces or wedges, depending on the look you want.
- Add vinaigrette dressing right before serving and toss to coat, or if serving individually, pass dressing in pitcher.
This salty, sweet, crunchy, fruity combo just makes my mouth happy! I usually bring this salad for a buffet, so I add the dressing and mix right before serving. But if you’re having a sit-down dinner, you could also arrange it in bowls and just pass the dressing.
The pears do usually turn brown after they sit, so you could put your favorite fruit-fresh on them if you prefer.
Printable Recipe Card
Here is a printable recipe card you can pin or print out:
Pear Gorgonzola Salad
This crunchy, sweet Pear Gorgonzola green salad recipe tastes extra special with pure maple syrup.
Ingredients
- 1 cup virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 shallot, minced small
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2-3 pears
- 1 cup gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles
- 1 cup toasted walnuts or pecans (or maple pecans or walnuts)
- mixed lettuce greens and kale in bite sized pieces
Instructions
- As an extra treat, make maple pecans or walnuts. Drizzle pure maple syrup over nuts and mix to coat. Place on parchment paper in a single layer on sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7 minutes. Cool. (Try not to snack on them;)
- Make salad dressing. Mix together olive oil, cider vinegar, maple syrup, minced shallots and salt and pepper.
- Fill large serving bowl or individual bowls with lettuce greens with a balanced mix of kale and softer lettuce (like Spring Mix).
- On top of greens, layer cooled nuts, gorgonzola (or blue cheese) crumbles and bite sized cut pears. Cut in small pieces or wedges, depending on the look you want.
- Add vinaigrette dressing right before serving and toss to coat, or if serving individually, pass dressing in pitcher.
Notes
Great salad to serve with softer meats like chicken or turkey. Add cooked meat to top for a full meal.
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ECOHAGOU 11.3" Extra Large Salad Serving Bowl Set with Wooden Lid&Utensils, 6.5Qt., Bamboo Fiber Salad Bowl with Servers for Kitchen, Lightweight Big Bowl for Mixing Salad,Fruit,Pasta (Matte White)
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AIDEA Acacia Wooden Serving Bowls, 7 Inch Set of 4 for Salad, Soup, Noodle and More
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OXO Good Grips Twist & Pour Salad Dressing Mixer, Gray, 14 ounces, 0.44 qt
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 338Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 255mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 3gSugar: 13gProtein: 5g
I can’t wait to see the rest of the ladies Thanksgiving recipe ideas today! Probably shouldn’t be hungry reading this;( Enjoy Lynne’s Easy Pumpkin Muffins with Crumb Topping at My Family Thyme next; they sound delicious!
For our regularly scheduled Pinterest Challenge series, see HERE.
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Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas
Sharing at these lovely parties:
This looks like an amazing fall salad! I can’t wait to try it!
Lora, I’m a salad girl and have it multiple times a week. I love kale, pears and pecans (State tree of Texas) so this salad is one I often make. Thanks for sharing.
I have salads often, too, Carol. Always love hearing a new combo!
Lora, this salad looks amazing! The combination of flavors sounds delicious! I am excited to feature your post at this week’s Tuesday Turn About Link Party. Thank you so much for sharing!
Wonderful; thanks, Lynne!
I love any kind of salad and this one sounds delicious. Pears are a favorite, so I know my family will love this. Thanks for the recipe.
Your welcome!
Oh Lora, I’m so happy to have this recipe. It sounds so much like my favorite salad at the restaurant we used to eat at in our old town. Yeah, now I can have. it whenever I want.
Enjoy it at home, indeed, Diane!
So yummy, Lora!!! I am trying to eat more salad (usually tuna with a lot of salad for school) so I printed your pear gorgonzola salad recipe to add to my collection. Thank you for sharing it!
Enjoy your fall,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Great, healthy resolution, Barbara!
Laura, your salad looks delicious. And what a treat to have maple trees that give you fresh maple syrup. I love blue cheese and pears, so this is right up my alley. I am right there with you needing that crunch for Thanksgiving. :))))
Glad you liked it, Wendy! Thanks:)
I literally laughed out loud when you said your teeth needed a little more action. I had this vision of you being an old lady with no teeth and popping in some dentures just so you could eat this salad. LOLOLOL!
Would you believe I had never tried pear until last year? ‘Tis true! I found a recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich with pear and it was delicious. Looking forward to trying this too. Thank you for sharing it with us. pinned
I can’t believe you’d never tried pears, Cindy! I even love the fragrance of a ripe one:)
This looks so good can’t wait to try it. I love salad with my meal and this one will be great to take with me. I go to my son’s house to eat Thanksgiving meal.
Hope your family enjoys it, Marlene!
I’m a salad lover too Lora! What a beautiful salad and a delicious combination of flavors! Pinning!
It is a wonderful combo, Michelle; enjoy!
Lol, I quit making the traditional Thanksgiving years ago. I don’t like turkey, the food is all brown and it takes all day to cook a meal that is over pretty quickly. We instead have a nice and simple meal of things we enjoy. Of course, we are older now and the kids are long grown. This is a lovely salad. For years we often make a similar salad made with pears, dry cranberries, candied walnuts and amish blue cheese.
I totally get it, Jillian! That salad version sounds yummy for the harvest season, too!
Oh this looks SO good. I can’t wait to make it. I love blue cheese.
Yes, me, too, Laura! Enjoy:)
We have a few pear trees just outside our pecan grove that I never know what to do with, Lora. I think I finally found my answer though because your salad recipe looks delicious. I’ve never made my own dressing before so I’m excited about that too! Hugs, CoCo
How wonderful, CoCo! I think we can grow pears here, too…should plant a tree!
Oh, this is right up my alley. I can’t wait to try it. Hugs and blessings to you.
Enjoy, Renae!