Roquefort Pear Salad with Caramelized Pecans and Mustard Vinaigrette Recipe
A sophisticated and flavorful Roquefort Pear Salad featuring crisp green leaf lettuce, juicy pears, creamy avocado, and tangy Roquefort cheese, topped with caramelized pecans and a zesty mustard vinaigrette dressing. This salad combines sweet, savory, and creamy textures for an elegant starter or light meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Caramelized Pecans
- ½ cup pecans
- ¼ cup white sugar
Mustard Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons white sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons prepared mustard
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1 head green leaf lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 3 medium pears, peeled, cored and chopped
- 5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled
- 1 medium avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
- ½ cup thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
- Caramelize Pecans: In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, combine pecans and white sugar. Stir frequently until the sugar melts and coats the pecans evenly, turning a golden caramel color. Remove from heat and spread on parchment to cool completely.
- Prepare Mustard Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, white sugar, prepared mustard, chopped garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, combine torn green leaf lettuce, chopped pears, crumbled Roquefort cheese, diced avocado, and thinly sliced green onions. Gently toss the ingredients together to mix.
- Dress and Serve: Pour the mustard vinaigrette over the salad and toss lightly to coat evenly. Sprinkle the caramelized pecans on top as a crunchy garnish. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For best flavor, use ripe but firm pears to maintain their shape in the salad.
- Caramelized pecans can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container.
- Adjust the amount of Roquefort cheese based on your preference for blue cheese intensity.
- For a nuttier vinaigrette, consider adding a teaspoon of walnut oil in place of some olive oil.
- This salad pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or a light white wine.
Keywords: Roquefort pear salad, caramelized pecans, mustard vinaigrette, green leaf lettuce salad, avocado pear salad, blue cheese salad