GOAT'S CHEESE, PEAR & CANDIED PECAN SALAD

Goat's cheese, pear & candied pecan salad image

This extra-special vegetarian starter is bursting with contrasting flavours and textures, such as spiralized pear, crunchy roasted nuts and creamy cheese

Provided by James Martin

Categories Starter

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

100g pecans
2 tbsp soft brown sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 red-skinned pears , cut into long, thin strips (use a spiralizer, or julienne them)
100g wild rocket
4 x 35g rounds of goat's cheese
1 tsp mustard powder
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and put the pecans on a non-stick baking sheet. Sprinkle over the sugar and maple syrup, and toss to combine. Roast for 5-7 mins until golden, then leave to cool completely before roughly chopping.
Meanwhile, make the dressing by combining the ingredients and seasoning well. In a large bowl, combine the pear with the rocket, and toss with a little of the dressing.
Just before serving, blowtorch or grill the goat's cheese rounds until golden. To serve, put the remaining dressing in a squeezy bottle and swirl around the edge of the plate. Put the pear and rocket salad in the middle, scatter over the nuts and top with the goat's cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 487 calories, Fat 38 grams fat, SaturatedFat 9 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 22 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 21 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 11 grams protein, Sodium 0.6 milligram of sodium