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Autumn Pear & Blue Cheese Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

This Autumn Pear & Blue Cheese Salad combines sweet, thinly sliced pears with creamy blue cheese, savory smoked turkey, and crunchy toasted walnuts. Dressed with a glossy maple vinaigrette, it creates a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors, ideal for weeknight dinners, lunch bowls, or as an elegant starter for any seasonal meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salad Ingredients
  • 2 medium ripe pears thinly sliced
  • 50 g blue cheese crumbled, room temperature for easier crumbling
  • 50 g toasted walnuts
  • 50 g smoked turkey slices or thinly sliced cured turkey
  • 2 cups mixed salad greens or arugula
Maple Vinaigrette
  • 30 ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 15 ml apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • to taste salt and black pepper

Method
 

Make the Maple Vinaigrette
  1. Start by preparing the maple vinaigrette. Combine apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard in a bowl.
  2. Slowly whisk in extra virgin olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Assemble the Salad
  1. Place mixed salad greens in a large bowl and toss lightly with a couple of spoonfuls of vinaigrette, reserving some for finishing.
  2. Arrange dressed greens on plates. Fan pear slices over the top and add torn smoked turkey slices.
  3. Crumble blue cheese over the salad and sprinkle toasted walnuts on top.
  4. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the finished salad and grind black pepper on top.

Notes

  • Slice pears just before serving to prevent browning. Toss with a little lemon juice if sliced earlier.
  • Toast walnuts in a dry skillet until fragrant and cooled before adding to the salad.