The Easiest Salad You'll Ever Make

Monday, January 21, 2013
I love to cook, I love to bake.  I love to serve good food to my friends.  I love to write!  So you might think there are no downsides to writing a blog where I record all my recipes.

You'd be wrong.

Here's the downside: when I post a recipe like this, it gives away my secret about how incredibly easy it is to make.

This salad tastes so good, with great flavours that complement each other perfectly, that you'd expect I spent hours putting it together.  Until you read the recipe that I've posted on my blog and realize I assembled the whole thing in ten minutes.

So if I have you over to dinner, you won't be able to exclaim, "Beth, you shouldn't have gone to so much work!"  I won't be able to blush modestly and say, "Your friendship is worth it."

But you'll know in advance how awesome this salad is.  And maybe you'll even serve it to me!

Warm Pear and Hazelnut Salad
(from Canadian Living magazine)

Note: Unless you're making this for a large group, half a recipe will do.


1 Tbsp butter
2 firm ripe pears (such as Bartlett), cored and cut in 1/4 inch thick slices
3 Tbsp sherry vinegar
1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp liquid honey
1/4 tsp salt
12 cups baby arugula
3 1/2 ounces (100 grams) Cambozola cheese, broken in chunks
1/4 cup skinned toasted filberts (or hazelnuts)

In skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat.  Add pears and cook for 1 minute.  Add 1 Tbsp of the vinegar and brown sugar; toss to coat.  Cook until fork-tender, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk together olive oil, remaining vinegar, mustard, honey, and salt.  Toss with arugula.  Divide among four plates.  Sprinkle with cheese, filberts and warm pears.

34 comments:

Bonnie said...

Beth, There is an art to simplicity, especially when entertaining. Your recipes always look wonderful. I love pears in salads; I will definitely be coping this. Bonnie

Joanne said...

Haha that's definitely a downside of blogging...but there is something to be said just for finding the simple delicious recipes!

Valerie Gamine said...

Hazelnuts, pears and Cambozola cheese! Yes, please! This salad may be easy to put together, but it certainly has fabulous ingredients.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Sounds yum. Thanks Beth. I could use some variety in my salads.

Angie's Recipes said...

I love all kinds of salads..but the simple, easy, and delicious ones are my favourite.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Simple is good! And this salad looks great. I'll bet you can taste each distinct flavor in this when you eat it. Looks wonderful, and it's definitely something I want to make. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

That looks easy and delicious!

Anonymous said...

The best recipes are the quick and delicious ones!

Jemi Fraser said...

I love pears and this one sounds great. I don't know if I've ever heard of that cheese before - have to see if my stores carry it!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

I think your salad looks so good! Great combination of flavors :)

Justine L said...

I made some ridiculously easy salads this week, too. Recipes forthcoming. And it doesn't make me respect you any less. ;)

Belinda said...

Beautiful! Shh. Don't tell anyone how easy this is. Warm pears are the best!

Food Gal said...

We all appreciate dishes that taste like more than the sum of their parts and that take far less effort than anyone would guess.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

I love love this combination of flavors...and the use of Cambozola is PERFECT with pears. I don't know why I've never thought to add it to my salads...this is genius!!!

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

I am loving the simple and delicious salad my friend :D

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

Needful Things said...

That definitely is the downside to blogging - you end up giving all your secrets away ;-)
The salad looks elegant and beautiful - no one would believe you didn't labor over it for an hour!

Kathy said...

This sounds like a great salad with great flavors. Arugula and pears two of my favorite salad ingredients!
It’s funny how some of the most impressive dishes are quite easy to put together…glad you shared this one!

Elaine said...

It is such a pretty salad and I like that it has the crunch of the hazelnuts in it.

Victoria said...

Nothing better than a lovely dish that only takes about 10 minutes to make :) This salad is right up my alley!

Anonymous said...

I love nuts in salad. I've never eaten Cambozola cheese, but I'd like to try it.

Unknown said...

Beth-this is my idea of a perfect salad!!!! I love each and every ingredient in your salad and I know it would be a huge hit chez moi-thanks for sharing;-)

Julie said...

Interesting, fun salad. I've never heard of Cambozola cheese, I will have to check it out.

Danielle's Heartfelt Home said...

This salad looks absolutely divine! All of my favorite flavors combined into one easy salad! I can't wait to make this! And don't worry, your secret is safe with me... : ) .

Thanks for sharing!
Danielle

Lawyer Loves Lunch said...

Warm pears sound delicious! I would've never even thought of adding them to a salad :)

Cakelaw said...

This is such a pretty salald - and I love pears.

Kittie Howard said...

Yum, what a gorgeous salad!

Beth, we've decided to visit Normandy this year, yay! But I seem to have lost that fab post you had (which triggered this trip). If possible, we'd like to stay in a farmhouse type situation for a few days. As I recall your post addressed this. There was one place in particular that lingers. If it's not asking too much, could you e-mail me the link to that post? (kittiehoward@gmail.com) Many thanks!!!

Beth said...

Hi Kittie! There are two places in Normandy that you might be referring to. I'll look up the links and send them to you this morning. Thanks for remembering my post!

Velva said...

Proof that simple is indeed best.

Cheers.
Velva

Claudia said...

Well - peeling hazelnuts can be a lot of work. (Unless you buy them peeled!) I love the winter combination. So many pears are at their peak and I love a salad that proclaims winter. Even if I don't love winter!

Katerina said...

The pears in this salad obviously make a difference Beth! Looks very appetizing!

grace said...

yum! i had no idea filberts and hazelnuts were the same thing until recently when i succeeded in making a fool of myself. :)

amy (fearless homemaker) said...

Ooh, I love a simple, delicious salad like this. It looks So wonderful. YUM!

Jennifer Kendall said...

what a gorgeous salad Beth! i love all the different flavors in here!

Anonymous said...

I love everything in this salad (and just happen to have pears that are almost ripe)!

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