Pear Gorgonzola Salad

Name: Pear Gorgonzola Salad
Ingredients: 60g pecan halves; 1 1/2 tsp maple syrup; pinch of cinnamon; 1 pinch kosher salt; 1 recipe Balsamic Vinaigrette; 1 ripe pear, sliced; 1 shallot; 220g butter lettuce (or other greens), torn; 45g gorgonzola cheese crumbles (or blue cheese); 40g dried cherries or cranberries

By admin 2/28/2026

This is a 5 star side dish combining sweet and savory elements. It pairs well with various dinners and works particularly well as a fall or winter salad, though it's versatile across seasons.

Ingredients

Scale:

Units:

60g pecan halves
1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
pinch of cinnamon
1 pinch kosher salt
1 recipe Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 ripe pear, sliced
1 shallot
220g butter lettuce (or other greens), torn
45g gorgonzola cheese crumbles (or blue cheese)
40g dried cherries or cranberries

Instructions

Toast pecans in a skillet for 4-5 minutes until browned and fragrant. Add cinnamon and salt, toasting about 30 seconds more. Turn off heat and stir in maple syrup until coated. Transfer to a plate to cool.
Prepare the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing.
Slice the pear into thin pieces and thinly slice the shallot.
Arrange greens on a plate or platter. Top with pear slices, shallot, maple pecans, and gorgonzola crumbles. Drizzle with dressing (approximately 6 tablespoons per 4 servings) and serve.