Best Poached Pear Macadamia And Spinach Salad With Goat Cheese Recipes

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POACHED PEAR, MACADAMIA, AND SPINACH SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE RECIPE



Poached Pear, Macadamia, and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese Recipe image

Provided by Kimloves2cook

Number Of Ingredients 11

* Poached pears (recipe follows)
* 6 quarts baby spinach leaves (18 oz.), rinsed and crisped
* 1 jar (6 oz.; 1 1/4 cups) plain roasted, roasted and salted, or honey-roasted macadamia nuts
* 4 ounces fresh chèvre (goat cheese)
* 1/3 cup mild olive oil
* 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
* 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
* 1 tablespoon honey
* 1 tablespoon dried thyme
* Salt and pepper
* 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds (optional)

Steps:

  • Preparation 1. With a slotted spoon, lift pears from poaching liquid; reserve liquid. Slice pears lengthwise or cut them into about 1/2-inch chunks. 2. In a large bowl, combine pears with spinach and macadamia nuts. Coarsely crumble half the cheese over salad. 3. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons reserved pear-poaching liquid (save remaining for another use; see notes), mustard, honey, and thyme. Pour over salad and gently mix to coat, adding salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and crumble remaining cheese over salad. Poached pears: In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium heat, combine 1 bottle (750 ml.) dry red wine, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 thin strip (3 in. by 1/2 in.) lemon peel (yellow part only), 2 star anise (or 1 teaspoon anise seeds and 1 cinnamon stick, 3 in.), and 1 vanilla bean (6 in.), split lengthwise. Bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, peel 3 firm-ripe Anjou pears (1 1/2 lb. total), cut in half lengthwise, and core. Place pears in wine mixture. Cover and simmer, turning occasionally, until pears are barely tender when pierced, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let pears cool in liquid, turning occasionally, at least 30 minutes, or cover and chill up to 3 days.

ROASTED-PEAR AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD



Roasted-Pear And Goat Cheese Salad image

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Categories     salads and dressings

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 teaspoon well-aged balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Dash of fresh ground black pepper, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons pumpkinseed oil
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into quarters
Olive oil spray
1 pound mesclun, rinsed and dried
8 ounces fresh goat cheese
1/2 cup toasted pumpkinseeds
1 tablespoon pumpkinseed oil

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the vinaigrette, combine the vinegars with the salt and pepper in a salad bowl. Slowly whisk in the pumpkinseed oil and then the canola oil. Adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste, and set aside.
  • Place pears in a roasting pan that has been lightly sprayed with oil. Lightly spray the pears, and roast for 40 minutes, or until golden and nearly soft. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool slightly.
  • To assemble the salad, place the pear quarters in the center of each of four plates. Toss the mesclun with the vinaigrette; then, add the goat cheese in small pinches and toss carefully. Surround the pears with the goat cheese salad. Sprinkle the toasted pumpkin seeds over the arrangement. Drizzle 1 tablespoon pumpkinseed oil over the pears, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 408, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 32 grams, Fat 28 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 440 milligrams, Sugar 19 grams, TransFat 0 grams

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