August 2008 - Poached Pears and Blue Cheese Salad Dressed with Walnuts and Parsley Oil

poached pear and bluecheese at sampson barton
This dish tastes amazing. It's quick, simple and ideal for that dinner party or a quick lunch that's packed with plenty of taste

Ingredients
Serves 4
  • 2 pears, peeled, cored and cut lengthways into 8 thin slices
  • 500ml of cold water
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp caster sugar
  • 2 cloves
  • 100g soft blue cheese
  • 25g crumbled walnuts
  • 1 handful of mixed salad leaves per serving

For the Parsley Oil:
  • 2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • a few drops of lemon juice
  • sea salt and black pepper

step 1. Place the water, vinegar, cloves and sugar into a saucepan and bring to a quick simmer.
step 2. Add the pears, simmer for 3 minutes and leave to cool in the liquor.
step 3. Mix together the parsley oil ingredients and season to taste.
Step 4. Place mixed salad leaves on the centre of plate.
step 5. Arrange equal amounts of poached pear over the salad.
step 6. Crumble blue cheese and walnuts, arrange over salad.
step 7. Drizzle parsley oil to finish and serve.
bl imgTips...
Ideal if your pears are hard.
Try using fresh Tarragon and Sherry Vinegar instead of White Wine Vinegar.