The Best Blue Cheese, Walnut, and Pear Salad

We know there are a lot of salad recipes out there, but this is the best Blue Cheese, Walnut, and Pear Salad we’ve ever had. It’s the kind of salad you have at a restaurant one day and can’t stop thinking about after you go back home. It’s classy and elegant and feels like something that should be hard to make, but it’s not. This salad features delicate leafy lettuce, rich and toasted walnuts, funky and salty blue cheese, fruity pears, and a tasty toasted sesame soy dressing that combines savory, nutty, and sweet flavors. The result is a salad that is as simple and balanced as it is delicious.

Author: Cooking with Conks

Meal Type: Peanuts Free

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: EASY

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 325 kcal per serving

Ingredients

leafy lettuce (butter lettuce, green leaf, or red leaf)
1 cup - blue cheese
2 - pears
1 cup - raw walnuts
2 tablespoons - butter
pinch - salt
3 tablespoons - reduced sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons - toasted sesame oil
¼ cup - neutral oil
1 ½ tablespoons - brown sugar
1 tbsp - white vinegar
1 tbsp - spicy brown mustard
1 tbsp - mayonnaise
1 tbsp - sesame seeds

Instructions

In a small pan over medium heat, melt the butter and then add the walnuts and a small pinch of salt.
Toast the walnuts in the pan, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes. Remove the walnuts from the pan and place on a paper towel lined plate to cool.
Place the dressing ingredients, except sesame seeds, into a high-sided container. Blend the ingredients with an immersion blender until emulsified. Taste for seasoning. If needed, add a small pinch of salt. Stir in the sesame seeds at the end.
Assemble the salad by tossing together the lettuce, blue cheese, cooled walnuts, pears and desired amount of dressing in a large bowl.

Nutrition