Pear Gorgonzola Salad w/Walnuts & Maple Vinaigrette is an addictive salad in any season. Sweet maple vinaigrette w/pure maple syrup & shallots complements fresh pears, walnuts, salty gorgonzola and mixed greens. It’s a sweet and salty thang we got going on in the salad bowl folks…
Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend over Memorial Day. It was an unusually quiet weekend around here since three of our four boys were gone on various trips. Then the weather got a little wacky wacky.
On Saturday it was scorching hot, in the mid-90’s. Then suddenly the temperature dropped like a rock on Saturday night about thirty degrees and it was cold and rainy on Sunday and Monday morning, in the low 50’s.
Then the heat kicked in again and it was hot hot. Sweltering. Just in time for me to plant the garden Monday afternoon! Timing is everything. Ha. It wasn’t so bad, I held off and planted mostly after dinner, just as it was cooling down.
I planted lots of tomatoes, but also various kinds of peppers, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash and cucumbers. But mostly tomatoes because I do love a fresh mango salsa and caprese salads.
This past weekend on Saturday when it was sweltering, Jon and I wanted something cool and refreshing for lunch. The boys weren’t around so there wasn’t anyone to whine suggest having something besides salad.
There’s something irresistible about a cold and ripe, juicy pear on a sweltering hot day. Used to be we only got pears at certain times of the year, like fall and winter.
In fact, we have some wonderful neighbors across the street that head to Arizona and the sunshine every winter. Each fall they leave us here to slug it out alone with the snow shovels, snow blowers and salt.
But to soften the blow, they kindly send a big box of creamy and delicious Harry & David pears for Christmas. And we forgive them immediately for abandoning us to the elements. (!) We put the pears up on the mantel to ripen, all in a row, nestled in the holly and the ivy.
And somehow, they always ripen just in time for Christmas morning breakfast. We sure do love fresh, juicy pears around here, so I knew this salad would be a big hit.
While the pears are delicious, it’s the sweet maple vinaigrette with diced shallots that really ties this Pear Gorgonzola Salad w/Walnuts together.
Try using my maple walnuts as opposed to plain toasted walnuts. The crunchy sweet contrast with the salty gorgonzola cheese is extra delicious with the greens and maple vinaigrette.
Pear Gorgonzola Salad w/Walnuts & Maple Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- 1 cup toasted or maple walnut halves
- 1 - 11 oz. package Spring Salad Mix
- 3 pears sliced
Maple Vinaigrette
- 1/2 shallot minced
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Gently toss salad greens, walnuts, pears and gorgonzola in large salad bowl.
- Or arrange on individual serving plates.
- Make maple vinaigrette by combining minced shallot, vinegar, syrup, salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Slowly whisk in vegetable oil until well blended.
- Drizzle maple vinaigrette liberally over salad, toss and serve immediately.
This Pear Gorgonzola Salad w/Walnuts & Maple Vinaigrette pairs perfectly with these Jordan Pond House Popovers
Sylvie says
Love that sweet salty combination!
Emily @ Life on Food says
Loving this flavor combo and those walnuts looks super delicious. Great salad!
Aunt Pinkie says
Oh, my- this looks soooo good!
Marilyn says
I make a similar salad to this. I love it! It’s especially good with some grilled chicken. Pear salad and chicken make a yummy summer supper!
Allie says
That sounds super delicious Marilyn!!!! I’ve gotta try it with the chicken now.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Glad you had an okay holiday weekend, Allie… aside from the weather and the unusual quietness. Our weekend was pretty good – a nice mix of work and play. The weather sure has been pretty awful the past month or so. I’m tired of all the rain!! Anyways, this salad looks fabulous! I love the combination of sweet, salty and savory! I’ll take extra gorgonzola on mine please. 😉 Cheers, sweets! xoxo
olivia @ livforcake says
It’s going to be scorching hot here this weekend so I’ll be looking to live off of fresh salads. This one is perfect!
Tracy says
Now that sounds like an excellent combination of flavors! It looks so good Allie! Glad you got your garden planted!!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Allie, haha, your neighbors sure are peaches – or should I say pears?! 🙂 Such a thoughtful gift they leave y’all with before they escape that gosh darn nasty white stuff that falls from the sky every winter/fall/Spring(in y’alls area) I gotta agree, with you, a nice juicy pear is the epitome of summer – and combining it in a sweet, crispy, salty, crunchy salad with that Maple Vinaigrette just sounds simply divine! And using those maple walnuts – why that would make me wanna eat this salad throughout the summer!
Allie says
Hey Shashi – Then this morning my peaches (err…pears) brought over some fresh dates from Uma, and their stay in Arizona last winter – I’ve got all kinds of thoughts about what to do with them. (They (my neighbors) did receive several tall glasses of White wine peach sangria yesterday…. Jon and I absolutely could not suck down that big pitcherful alone. It just wouldn’t be right.) Wish I could share a glass with you!
Kelsie | itsy-bitsy kitchen says
I’m totally drooling right now. I love absolutely anything with maple but throw some salty cheese in there too and I’m in. And you’re lucky to have such awesome neighbors!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
This is one of my favorite. Salads! I love making it for baby and bridal showers! Delish!
Lisa (Panning The Globe) says
This is one of my favorite salad combinations and your maple vinaigrette adds a new dimension. I may be making this delicious salad soon! Thanks Allie.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Happy that you had an okay weekend. It was nice warm last weekend here but I was away, and this weekend it’s gonna be cold again. I love all the sweet and salty flavors in this beautiful and summer-y salad.
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
That’s some crazy weather! I love this salad….of course I’d have to make another batch of walnuts because I don’t think they’d last until salad time….Maybe I’ll have to make a double batch just so there’d be enough for this salad.
Catherine says
Dear Allie, there is nothing better than pears and gorgonzola especially when tossed together in this fresh salad. Looks so good…sometimes a salad is all you need. Harry and David is always a fun surprise! xo, Catherine
Karen Espalin says
Oh my gosh, this sounds so good. I’m pinning so when our pears are ripe I can make it.
Allie says
Oooooo…you have PEARS!!! That’s awesome, I would love a pear tree! With a partridge in it.
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
My hubby loves pears in his salad so I’ll have to make this for him. Sounds like you’re having some crazy weather over there!!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
I love the pear gorgonzola combo! This salad looks so good!
Becky says
This looks delicious! Quick question: I am not a fan of Gorgonzola. What would be a good substitute?
Allie says
Hi Becky – if you like feta, that wld be nice too. Thanks for dropping by!