Pear Gorgonzola Salad (Printer-friendly)

Fresh pears meet tangy Gorgonzola, crisp greens, and walnuts in honey-balsamic dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or spring mix)
02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced
03 - 3.5 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
04 - 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
05 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
02 - In a large salad bowl, toss the mixed greens lightly with half of the prepared dressing to coat evenly.
03 - Arrange the pear slices, Gorgonzola crumbles, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries over the dressed greens.
04 - Drizzle with the remaining dressing just before serving and present immediately to maintain freshness.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under fifteen minutes, which means you can make it on a whim without the stress.
  • The sweet-salty-tangy balance keeps your palate genuinely interested from start to finish.
  • It works equally well as a sophisticated dinner starter or a light lunch that actually feels substantial.
02 -
  • Don't dress your greens more than a few minutes before eating—they'll wilt, and you'll lose all that crisp texture that makes this salad special.
  • Slice the pears just before assembly because they oxidize quickly and turn an unappetizing brown, no matter how pretty they looked in your mental picture.
03 -
  • Toast your walnuts in a dry skillet for three or four minutes and you'll taste the difference immediately—it's a five-minute step that transforms them from background player to actual ingredient.
  • Make the dressing first and let it sit while you prep everything else; the flavors meld and deepen slightly, creating a more cohesive final salad.
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