Sweet & Savory Harmony: The Ultimate Little Gem Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with this exquisite Little Gem, Pear, and Gorgonzola Salad, a dish that masterfully balances sweet and savory notes in every vibrant bite. Imagine crisp, delicate Little Gem lettuce providing the perfect foundation for a symphony of flavors: the perfectly sweet, juicy Forelle pears, rich and creamy Gorgonzola cheese, crunchy toasted walnut pieces, and savory, crisp bacon. All of these delightful elements are brought together with a generous drizzle of my signature White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette. This salad isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary experience, a true feast for both the eyes and the palate, promising an explosion of textures and flavors that will leave you craving more.
The star of this salad, the beautiful Forelle pear, graces us with its presence for a fleeting season, typically from September through January, as highlighted by USApears.org. These “little trout” pears, named for their delicate pink blush resembling a trout’s scales, boast a fascinating history, dating back to the 1600s in Germany before making their way to the United States in the 1800s. Their subtly sweet flavor and firm yet tender texture make them an unparalleled choice for this salad. However, if these seasonal beauties are not available, a ripe Bosc pear offers a wonderful alternative, bringing its own unique sweetness and slightly gritty texture to the mix. Whichever pear you choose, ensure it’s ripe enough to yield a delicate sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the other ingredients.
The Art of the Perfect Salad: Ingredients that Sing
Crafting a truly memorable salad involves more than just tossing ingredients together; it’s about thoughtful curation and understanding how each component contributes to the overall experience. In this Little Gem, Pear, and Gorgonzola Salad, every ingredient plays a vital role in achieving that perfect sweet and savory harmony.
Choosing Your Pears Wisely
While Forelle pears are the ideal choice due to their delicate sweetness and appealing blush, other pear varieties can certainly shine. Ripe Bosc pears are an excellent second choice, offering a slightly firmer texture and a deep, earthy sweetness. Alternatively, Anjou or even Bartlett pears can work in a pinch, provided they are not overly soft. The key is to select pears that are ripe but still firm enough to hold their shape when sliced, offering a pleasant crunch amidst the creamy cheese and crisp lettuce. Consider the season; peak season pears will always deliver the best flavor.
The Creamy Tang of Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola, a venerable Italian blue cheese, is an indispensable element of this salad. Its distinctive piquant flavor and creamy texture melt beautifully with the sweetness of the pears and the sharp dressing. You can find Gorgonzola in two main varieties: Gorgonzola Dolce, which is younger, milder, and very creamy, and Gorgonzola Piccante, which is aged longer, firmer, and has a sharper, more intense flavor. For this salad, either works wonderfully, depending on your preference for a bolder or more subtle blue cheese note. If you buy a block, crumbling it yourself will give you more control over the texture and ensure fresh bursts of flavor throughout the salad.
Toasted Walnuts for Irresistible Crunch
The inclusion of toasted walnuts adds an essential textural contrast and a warm, earthy flavor that grounds the brighter notes of the fruit and dressing. Toasting the walnuts is a simple step that should not be skipped, as it significantly enhances their flavor and aroma. A dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes is all it takes to bring out their nutty essence. The subtle toasted scent will be your cue that they are ready. If walnuts aren’t your preference, pecans or even candied pecans could offer a similar crunch with a slightly different sweet-nutty profile.
Crispy Bacon: The Ultimate Savory Element
Bacon, cooked until extra crispy and then crumbled, introduces a salty, smoky depth that elevates this salad from good to extraordinary. The crispy texture provides another layer of sensory delight, contrasting with the soft cheese and juicy pears. While optional for vegetarians, the bacon truly completes the sweet-savory symphony. Ensure it’s cooked to your desired crispness, then allowed to cool before crumbling to maintain that delightful crunch.
Little Gem Lettuce: The Perfect Canvas
Little Gem lettuce is aptly named, as it’s a true gem among greens. Its compact, elongated heads offer wonderfully crisp leaves with a slightly sweet and buttery flavor, making it robust enough to stand up to the rich ingredients without being overpowering. Its smaller size also means less chopping and a more elegant presentation when quartered. If Little Gem is unavailable, tender butter lettuce or a delicate spring mix can serve as suitable alternatives, providing a soft bed for the vibrant toppings.
Let’s Prepare and Assemble This Little Gem, Pear and Gorgonzola Salad
This remarkable salad comes together surprisingly quickly, making it an ideal choice for a weeknight dinner, a sophisticated lunch, or an impressive appetizer for guests. The key to its rapid assembly lies in a bit of smart prep work for each component. I highly recommend pairing this salad with a bright and tangy dressing like a honey mustard or a balsamic vinaigrette. My White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette is, in my humble opinion, absolute perfection for this delightful mix of salty, sweet, and crisp ingredients. Its balanced acidity and subtle sweetness enhance every flavor without overwhelming the delicate components. The full recipe for this irresistible dressing is conveniently included in the recipe card below, ensuring you have all the tools to recreate this masterpiece.
To begin, ensure your Little Gem lettuce is fresh and crisp. Carefully quarter the heads lengthwise, exposing their vibrant interior. A thorough rinse under cold water is essential, followed by patting them dry thoroughly with kitchen towels. Excess water can dilute your dressing and make your salad soggy, so this step is crucial for maintaining the lettuce’s crispness. While the lettuce dries, you can multitask by preparing your bacon. Cook it until it reaches a delightful crispness, as this texture is key for a satisfying crunch in the final salad. Once cooled, crumble or chop it into small, bite-sized pieces.
Next, move on to the walnuts. Toasting them brings out their full flavor potential. A small skillet over medium heat for about five minutes is all you need. You’ll know they’re ready when they release a fragrant, toasted aroma. Remember to remove them from the heat and skillet immediately to prevent over-toasting. If your Gorgonzola comes in a block, take a moment to crumble it into inviting, creamy morsels. With these components ready, assembling the salad is a breeze. Arrange the dried Little Gem lettuce quarters artfully on a platter, then strategically place the pear slices – whether delicate Forelles or elegant Bosc slices – over the greens. Finally, generously scatter the crumbled Gorgonzola, toasted walnuts, and crispy bacon over the top, creating a visual and textural masterpiece. A final flourish of the White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette right before serving brings all the flavors together. Serve immediately to enjoy the freshest, crispest experience.
Versatile Variations: Customizing Your Salad
One of the beautiful aspects of this Little Gem Pear and Gorgonzola Salad is its adaptability. While the core ingredients create a harmonious blend, feel free to experiment with substitutions to suit your personal preferences or what’s seasonally available.
Absolutely! Apples are a fantastic alternative, especially crisp varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, which offer a delightful tartness. For a berry twist, strawberries, blackberries, or blueberries add a burst of color and a different kind of sweetness that pairs beautifully with the tangy dressing and creamy cheese. Consider the season for the freshest and most flavorful fruit options.
While Gorgonzola is a star, several other cheeses can step in. Asiago cheese, with its nutty and slightly sharp flavor, is an excellent choice. Other blue cheeses like Roquefort or Stilton can offer a more intense flavor profile if you enjoy a stronger blue cheese tang. For those who prefer milder options, a crumbled goat cheese provides a lovely tang and creaminess, while an aged Parmigiano Reggiano, cut into small chunks, introduces a salty, umami depth and a delightful texture.
You can certainly prep most components in advance to save time. Cook and crumble the bacon, toast the walnuts, crumble the cheese, and prepare the dressing a day or two ahead. Keep them stored separately. However, for the best presentation and flavor, slice or chop the pears right before serving to prevent them from oxidizing and turning brown. Similarly, dress the salad just before serving to keep the Little Gem lettuce crisp and fresh.
Tender lettuces are always best for this type of salad. In addition to Little Gem, butter lettuce (also known as Boston or Bibb lettuce) is a fantastic option due to its soft, buttery texture and mild flavor. Baby lettuces or a delicate spring mix also work beautifully, offering a variety of textures and colors. Avoid tougher, more bitter greens like curly endive or radicchio, as they might overpower the delicate flavors of the pears and dressing.
Serving Suggestions & Perfect Pairings
This Little Gem Pear and Gorgonzola Salad is incredibly versatile. It makes for an elegant appetizer, a satisfying light lunch on its own, or a perfect side dish to a variety of main courses. Pair it with grilled chicken or fish for a healthy and complete meal. Its vibrant flavors also complement roasted pork tenderloin or a simple pasta dish beautifully. For a truly decadent experience, serve it alongside a hearty steak. Its refreshing profile cuts through richer dishes, providing a much-needed balance to your meal. This salad is also a fantastic addition to any holiday table, particularly during the fall and winter months when pears are in season, offering a burst of freshness and color.
If you’ve had the pleasure of trying this recipe, I sincerely hope you’ll share your experience! Your comments and star ratings below not only help me, but they also guide other readers in discovering and enjoying this wonderful dish. We 🫶🏼 appreciate you and your feedback!
All content and photographs ©Claudia’s Table and claudiastable.com
Little Gem Pear and Gorgonzola Salad + White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Ana | Claudia’s Table
December 16, 2021
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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jar or bottle with lid
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Platter
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 tbsp shallot minced
- 2 tbsp White Balsamic Vinegar
- 6 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp honey raw or regular
- salt and pepper to taste
Salad
- 2 whole Little Gem lettuce or Half large head of Butter lettuce or baby lettuces
- 2 cups Forelle pears, cored and quartered (about 2-3) OR Bosc, Red pears, cored and sliced
- 2 slices Bacon cooked to package directions, extra crispy
- 1/4 cup Gorgonzola crumbled
- 1/4 cup Walnut pieces toasted
Instructions
Dressing
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In a jar, combine minced shallot and white balsamic vinegar and allow to macerate for 5 minutes. This softens the shallot and infuses the vinegar with its flavor.
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Add the remaining dressing ingredients: neutral oil, dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously until all ingredients are fully combined and emulsified.
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Any leftover salad dressing can be stored in an airtight container or back in the jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shake well before each use.
Prepping and Assembling Salad
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Carefully cut the Little Gem lettuce heads into quarters lengthwise. Rinse them thoroughly under cold water and then place cut-side down onto clean kitchen towels to drain and dry completely. This crucial step prevents a watery salad.
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Prepare the White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette as per the instructions above or from the linked recipe.
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Cook the bacon according to package directions, aiming for extra crispness, as the bacon will serve as a crunchy topping. Once cooked, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool and absorb excess grease. Once cooled, crumble or chop into small, uniform pieces.
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If you’ve purchased a block of Gorgonzola, crumble it into small pieces and set aside. Pre-crumbled Gorgonzola can be used directly.
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In a small skillet, preheat over medium heat. Once hot, add the walnut pieces and sauté, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted and fragrant, typically about 5 minutes. The walnuts will emit a slightly toasted, nutty smell when they are ready. Remove them from the heat and from the skillet immediately to a plate to cool completely. This prevents them from burning.
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Ensure the Little Gem lettuce is thoroughly dry by gently patting any remaining excess water with a paper towel. Arrange the dried lettuce quarters elegantly on a large serving platter or individual plates.
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For Forelle pears, cut them into quarters, remove the seeds, and artfully arrange the slices on top of the lettuce. If using full-size Bosc or other pears, cut them in half, core them, and then slice into thin, even pieces before arranging them over the lettuce.
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Evenly distribute the crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, toasted walnuts, and crispy crumbled bacon over the pear and lettuce base.
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Generously drizzle the prepared White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette over the entire salad just before serving.
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Serve this beautiful and flavorful salad immediately to enjoy its peak freshness and crispness.
Notes
For best results, always use fresh, high-quality ingredients. Adjust the amount of dressing to your personal taste – some prefer a lighter touch, others a more generous coating. Remember to taste and adjust salt and pepper for the dressing to ensure it perfectly complements the salad’s flavors.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated online and should be used as a guide.
All content and photographs ©Claudia’s Table and claudiastable.com
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