Pear Manchego Salad Recipes

PEAR & MANCHEGO SALAD

Steps:

• Heat the honey and rosemary in a small pan with 1 tbsp boiling water. Bring to a simmer and let it bubble for around 30 secs. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse.
• Heat a frying pan and drizzle in a little oil. Add the hazelnuts and toast until golden and starting to char a little here and there. Remove from the pan, allow to cool, then chop roughly to make a rustic crumb. Mix with the lemon zest and some seasoning.
• To make a dressing, combine the olive oil and balsamic vinegar with some seasoning. Toss the salad leaves in most of the dressing, then arrange on serving plates or a platter, layering the leaves with the pear slices. Top with shavings of manchego and the hazelnut crumb, then drizzle over some of the rosemary honey and the remaining dressing. Serve with prosciutto twists (see tip, below) for the meat-eaters.

SPICY GREEN SALAD WITH MANCHEGO AND PEARS

Steps:

• Cook seeds in 1 tablespoon oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until puffed and beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels and reserve oil. Season seeds with salt and pepper.
• Whisk together vinegar, honey, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Add remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and reserved oil from skillet in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.
• Divide greens and cheese among salad plates. Cut off 2 opposite sides of each pear (reserve for another use), leaving a 1/2-inch-thick lengthwise center slice with stem and core. Arrange a pear slice on each plate and drizzle dressing over salads. Sprinkle with seeds.

CRUNCHY WINTER SLAW WITH ASIAN PEAR AND MANCHEGO RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss pumpkin seeds and 1 tsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown and puffed, about 5 minutes; let cool. Finely chop 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds.
• Whisk chopped pumpkin seeds, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, and remaining 1/4 cup oil in a medium bowl; season dressing with salt and pepper.
• Combine cabbage and/or fennel, Asian pear, celery root, daikon, most of the Manchego, and remaining pumpkin seeds in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over top and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining Manchego.

KALE AND PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• Chop 1/2 large bunch kale; toss with 1 tablespoon each olive oil and white wine vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a large bowl, then rub with your fingers until softened. Cook 1/2 cup chopped pecans in a skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon each sugar and salt until toasted. Stir in 1 chopped pear; add to the kale. Drizzle with more oil and vinegar, season with salt and pepper and toss.

SALAD WITH PROSCIUTTO AND CARAMELIZED PEARS AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat orange juice over medium-high heat, whisking often, until it is reduced by 1/4.
• Add to a blender, along with the vinegar, onion, sugar, wine, salt and pepper, and process until smooth. Then, while blending on a low speed, remove cap and slowly drizzle in the olive oil to emulsify (thicken) the dressing. Chill until ready to use.
• Melt butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Saute pears and nuts in butter for 3 minutes. Add sugar and water and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown and caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, combine prosciutto, lettuce and the pear and walnut mixture. Add vinaigrette and toss to coat. Serve on a large Italian platter. Enjoy!