This simple salad recipe made with romaine hearts is perfect for fall and winter! Seasonal ingredients and a homemade blue cheese vinaigrette give it a distinctly French flair.
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Who says you can't have a great salad during fall and winter? It's important at this time of year to seek out your green vegetables.
These romaine hearts are really classy, really simple, and very French. I adapted this recipe from the book Tasting Paris by Clotilde Dusoulier. Clotilde is an amazing food blogger that shares recipes and all things Paris on her site.
So when you're eating this salad, you can imagine yourself in a cozy French bistro, watching the fashionable people walk by.
It's so very French not just because of the blue cheese (or should I say bleu?). It's rooted in the idea of eating seasonally which is so ingrained in French cuisine.
Another aspect of French cuisine is using high-quality ingredients. I used Millican Pecans in this recipe. They only sell pecans from the most recent harvest. (Pecans in the grocery store can be up to two years old!!!)
Your mind will be blown at the difference in flavor once you try fresh pecans! And you'll be supporting a family business when you buy from them.
This such is a well balanced salad. The romaine hearts stay crisp and hold up to the blue cheese vinaigrette. The pears offer a touch of sweetness to complement the cheese, the pecans add an earthy flavor.
It's perfect for a romantic night in, or as a starter for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Are romaine hearts the same as romaine lettuce?
Romaine hearts are the center of the head of romaine lettuce. This part of the romaine is a bit lighter in color, tastes a little sweeter, and is the crunchiest part of the lettuce.
Romaine Hearts with Blue Cheese, Pears, and Pecans
Adapted from Tasting Paris by Clotilde Dusoulier.
The only thing that takes any time at all is to make the blue cheese vinaigrette, and most of that time is just chillin'. Literally. Otherwise, this salad comes together in less than 15 minutes.
Two hours before serving, or the night before, melt half of the blue cheese into the heavy cream in a small sauce pan. Stir to combine, and put in the refrigerator to chill.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and mustard until it is fully emulsified to make a vinaigrette.
Add the chilled blue cheese mixture to the vinaigrette.
Whisk until thoroughly incorporated.
In a small skillet, toast the pecans over medium heat, tossing occasionally, about 5 minutes. Just until you can smell their pecan-ness.
Use a good chef's knife to thinly slice the pear.
Leaving the core of the lettuce in place so the leaves hold together, slice the romaine hearts into fourths. If possible slice each fourth in half again. You might not be able to get these into such small wedges, depending upon out tightly packed the leaves are.
Place the romaine hearts on a platter, drizzle with the blue cheese vinaigrette, top with the toasted pecans, blue cheese crumbles, pear slices, and serve.
Do ahead
The blue cheese vinaigrette can be made one day in advance and stored in the fridge.
Related recipes
- For another elegant starter, try this Massaged Kale Salad with Basil-Lemon Dressing.
- Fall flavors abound in my Kale Salad with Cranberries, Apples, and Pecans.
- This Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Mâche and Tarragon Vinaigrette is always a hit when I take it to potlucks.
Romaine Hearts with Blue Cheese, Pears, and Pecans
Ingredients
- 1 head romaine lettuce
- 1 large pear or two small ones
- ½ cup pecan halves
- 4 oz blue cheese
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Two hours before serving, or the night before, melt half of the blue cheese into the heavy cream in a small sauce pan. Stir to combine, and put in the refrigerator to chill.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and mustard until it is fully emulsified to make a vinaigrette. Add the chilled blue cheese mixture to the vinaigrette and whisk thoroughly to combine.
- In a small skillet, toast the pecans over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Just until you can smell their pecan-ness.
- Thinly slice the pear.
- Leaving the core of the lettuce in place so the leaves hold together, slice the romaine hearts into fourths. If possible slice each fourth in half again. (You might not be able to get these into such small wedges, depending upon out tightly packed the leaves are.)
- Place the romaine hearts on a platter, drizzle with the blue cheese vinaigrette, top with remaining blue cheese crumbles, pecans, pear slices, and serve.
Notes
- I used Millican Pecans in this recipe, because they only sell pecans from the most recent harvest. (Pecans at the store can be up to two years old!) Give them a try - the difference in flavor is unbelievable, and you'll be supporting a family business!
- This recipe was adapted from Tasting Paris, by Cotilde Dusoulier. It's a beautiful book with recipes from breakfast to cocktails to dessert, and incredible photos of not just food, but locations all over Paris.
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