Endive Salad with Roasted Pears, Walnuts and Gorgonzola
CATEGORIES
INGREDIENTS
- 1 shallot
- 1 whole star anise
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 6 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons white wine
- Salad
- 3 firm-ripe Bosc pears
- 8 Belgian endives
- ½ cup walnut halves or pieces
- 7 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (about 1 1/2 cups)
- Garnish: chopped fresh parsley leaves
DIRECTIONS
- Chop shallot and crush star anise. In a blender blend shallot, oil, orange juice, and vinegar and wine until emulsified. Transfer mixture to a small bowl or jar and add star anise and salt and pepper to taste. Chill dressing, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day. Pour dressing through a sieve into a bowl and discard solids. Whisk dressing until combined well.
- Make salad:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Halve and core pears. Cut pears lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange in one layer on baking sheet. Roast pears in middle of oven about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the walnuts over the pears and roast another 5 minutes, until pears are pale golden, and cool on baking sheet.
- Presentation:
- Rinse endives, cut in half lengthwise and then in half lengthwise again (quarters).
- On a salad plate arrange 4 endive spears, top with pears and walnuts and sprinkle gorgonzola over the
RECIPE BACKSTORY
My friends and I made this recipe at the most recent "supper club" get together we had. It was inspired but a recipe I saw on Epicurious but I adapeted and altered it to suit our tastes. It makes a refreshing summer salad served cold or a lovely autumn dish if you serve the pears and walnuts warm out of the oven. Enjoy!