Gorgonzola Pear Salad with Merlot Shallot Dressing
Elevate your salad game with this Gorgonzola Pear Salad featuring a luxurious Merlot Shallot Dressing. Crisp mixed greens form the perfect base for juicy, ripe pear slices, tangy crumbles of Gorgonzola cheese, and the crunch of toasted pecans or walnuts, all balanced by sweet dried cranberries. The star of the dish is the homemade Merlot Shallot Dressing—a rich blend of red wine, honey, and olive oil, with a touch of vinegary tang, enhanced by finely minced shallots for a gourmet finish. Ready in just 20 minutes, this show-stopping salad combines elegance with ease, making it an ideal choice for dinner parties or a sophisticated lunch. Each bite offers an irresistible mix of sweet, savory, and nutty flavors, perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself to a restaurant-quality meal at home.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 cups Mixed salad greens
- 2 whole Ripe pears
- 0.5 cups Gorgonzola cheese
- 0.5 cups Pecans or walnuts
- 0.25 cups Dried cranberries
- 1 whole Shallot
- 0.25 cups Merlot wine
- 2 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 0.25 cups Olive oil
- 0.25 teaspoons Salt
- 0.25 teaspoons Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Wash and dry the mixed salad greens and place them in a large salad bowl.
Core and thinly slice the pears, leaving the skin on for texture and color. Arrange them on top of the salad greens.
Crumble the Gorgonzola cheese and sprinkle it over the salad.
Toast the pecans or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Allow them to cool slightly, then scatter over the salad.
Add the dried cranberries on top for a hint of sweetness.
To prepare the dressing, finely mince the shallot and place it in a small bowl or jar.
Add the Merlot wine, red wine vinegar, honey, olive oil, salt, and black pepper to the shallot. Whisk or shake the jar to combine thoroughly.
Taste the dressing and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving, or serve it on the side so guests can add their desired amount.
Toss the salad gently to coat ingredients evenly with the dressing. Serve immediately and enjoy the blend of flavors!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1613 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 116.5 g | 149% | |
| Saturated Fat | 24.1 g | 120% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 54 mg | 18% | |
| Sodium | 1534 mg | 67% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 121.4 g | 44% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 23.7 g | 85% | |
| Total Sugars | 82.7 g | ||
| Protein | 23.8 g | 48% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 510 mg | 39% | |
| Iron | 5.3 mg | 29% | |
| Potassium | 1453 mg | 31% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
