Bartlett pears both the green and red varieties are sweet and juicy, with a buttery texture. Both their flavor and texture make for a delicious salad dressing or vinaigrette.
Pears and cheese are a classic combination and when it comes to a pear vinaigrette with cheese, the Gorgonzola always comes to mind.
According to Stemilt – World Famous Fruit, in their online post, Pears and Cheese Pairings, they state that Bartlett pears, both the green and red, pair well with goat cheese.
This Pear and Goat Cheese Dressing will add a rich and indulgent flavor to a leafy green salad, making it a perfect option for those who love a little bit of decadence in their meals.
Plated Meal With A Leafy Green Salad Mixed With A Pear and Goat Cheese Dressing
Make sure your pears have properly ripened before using them to make a dressing.
To check if a pear is ripe, hold it in your hand and gently press the neck of the pear using your thumb. If the skin gives to that pressure even slightly, it’s ripe.
If the pears are hard and you want to speed up the ripening process, you can place them in a brown paper bag on the counter.
Pear and Goat Cheese Dressing
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons pear nectar *See Cook’s Notes
1 1/2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Half a 6-ounce ripe Bartlett red pear, peeled, cored and diced
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
1/2 cup goat cheese, room temperature
Cook’s Notes
You can find pear nectar at Whole Foods Market, on Amazon and at Walmart.
Alternatively, you can buy a can of pears in their own juice to obtain pear nectar.
Making The Salad Dressing
Using a blender or hand immersion blender, blend the olive oil, pear nectar, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, diced pear, salt and pepper until smooth.
Pour dressing into a salad dressing shaker and add goat cheese. Place pour spout in its place and tighten. Shake vigorously to combine goat cheese.
Open pour spout and pour out 1/3 cup to start and mix with salad greens.
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