Recipe courtesy of Michel Nischan
Asian Pear Salad with Tamari Pecans and Maytag Blue Cheese
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 4 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 4 servings
- Calories
- 430
- Total Fat
- 22
- Saturated Fat
- 3
- Carbohydrates
- 58
- Dietary Fiber
- 9
- Sugar
- 43
- Protein
- 8
- Cholesterol
- 6
- Sodium
- 876
- Total: 1 hr 45 min
- Prep: 20 min
- Inactive: 30 min
- Cook: 55 min
Ingredients
2 tablespoons pear or cider vinegar
4 teaspoons Pear Syrup, recipe follows
1 teaspoon Extra-Virgin O Lemon Oil or unflavored extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups mixed bitter salad greens, such as baby mustard, lovage, arugula, dandelion, and mizuna
1/4 cup chopped Tamari Pecans, recipe follows
1/4 cup dried currants or chopped raisins
1/4 cup crumbled chilled blue cheese (recommended: Maytag)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 ripe Asian pear, cored, peeled and thinly sliced
Pear Syrup:
3 cups pear juice
Tamari Pecans:
1 tablespoon tamari sauce
2 teaspoons molasses
Cayenne pepper and salt
1 cup pecan halves
Directions
- In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and syrup. Whisk in the oil and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the greens, pecans and currants. Sprinkle with the cheese and season lightly with salt and pepper. Whisk the dressing again and drizzle it over the salad.
- Toss the salad gently and briefly; you do not want the cheese to crumble any further and clump together.
- Divide the salad among 4 chilled salad plates. Fan the pear slices over each serving.
Pear Syrup:
- Put the pear juice in a saucepan and set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and skim the thick foam that rises to the surface.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer very gently, skimming occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the juice reduces to the consistency of maple syrup.
- Let cool to room temperature. Use now or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
Tamari Pecans:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a shallow bowl, stir the tamari and molasses together to blend. Season with cayenne and salt, to taste.
- Add the pecans and toss until they are coated. Transfer the pecans to a clean kitchen towel and let drain briefly.
- Spread the pecans on a wire rack set on a baking sheet and roast for about 10 minutes, or until fairly dry and toasted.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the rack. Chop the pecans into 1/4-inch pieces.