Arugula Salad With Maytag Cheese, Pears And Candied Walnuts
Arugula salad again? Well, yes. I had a large bag of it in my fridge, which needed to be used while still in prime condition. I also had some candied walnuts made by a local grower. That reminded me of a recipe from Food & Wine that combined arugula, pears, candied walnuts, and Maytag Cheese. This is a favorite of mine, and the Food & Wine staff where it was developed. All the contrasting flavors and textures worked together beautifully, from the sweet pears and walnuts to the salty cheese and bitter greens. It's flat out delicous. I served it with some leftovers black bean enchiladas, and it made the meal seem almost sophisticated.
Earlier in the day, I stopped by the grocery store and my post of several days ago, detailing my addiction to chips and Cheetos, was on my mind. One part of my mind kept urging me to get some Cheetos, while another part opposed the idea. Remembering that I've been eating high on the hog lately, I decided to forego Cheetos. Instead, I told myself to substitute something delicious and healthy, to wipe the image of orange fingers out of my mind. I wound up buying lovely blackberries and raspberries, to serve as counter programming. They were so far beyond Cheetos, I figured they would wipe any snack food urges out of my mind. That was my plan.
Did it work? Sort of. The mind knows what it wants, so I still had a Cheeto lust remnant in my brain. But, I didn't get salt bloat, or orange fingers. And I knew there were still plenty chips and Cheetos waiting for me at the store, ready to pounce when my resistance is low.
Arugula Salad With Maytag Cheese, Pears And Candied Walnuts
(Food & Wine, Staff Favorite)
4 SERVINGS
ingredients
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon minced shallot
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons walnut oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 bunches arugula, trimmed
1/2 cup candied walnuts (about 3 ounces)
1 medium Bartlett pear--halved, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled Maytag blue cheese
directions
In a large bowl, combine the vinegar and shallot.Whisk in the olive and
walnut oils and season with salt and pepper. Add the arugula, walnuts
and pear slices, season with salt and pepper and toss well. Scatter the
blue cheese on top and serve.
You must be getting your super powers of resistance from an incredible salad.
This is an absolute favorite of mine - totally fantastic flavors.
Great photo!
Posted by: Tanna | February 23, 2007 at 12:56 AM
I'll go crazy for candied walnuts, yes, just like chips, once start can't stop!
Pairing cheese and fruit always sounds very sophistcated to me, and they taste great indeed!
Posted by: gattina | February 23, 2007 at 02:19 AM
I love blue cheese, walnut and pear salad so very much.
Posted by: peabody | February 23, 2007 at 02:30 AM
Ooooh, I could skip the salad and go straight for those luscious berries!
Posted by: Lydia | February 23, 2007 at 05:24 AM
Yum! I love bleu cheese and pears. That's a classic combo for a reason--it tastes so d*** good!
Posted by: Glenna Muse | February 23, 2007 at 07:13 AM
Sher,
I love, love, love all the ingredients of this salad!
Oh, and I didn't make your delicious potato recipe because my sister-in-law had her baby on that day - I didn't even make lunch, we ate something on the go.
They'll be part of my special Sunday lunch!
Posted by: Patricia Scarpin | February 23, 2007 at 08:09 AM
I love arugula, more than anything probably. Any dark leafy green with that much flavor rates highly in my book. This salad looks absolutely delightful. I love the photo too! Thanks for sharing. I've never experienced this particular cheese --- I can guarantee you I will be the end of the weekend!
Posted by: Linda, The Village Vegetable | February 23, 2007 at 10:17 AM
I know its true, a salad like this is hard to pass up and really an excuse to have at it with the candied walnuts and blue cheese. But with all this talk about cheetos I'm sure that alot of us readers are going to start tossing a bag or two into our grocery carts!
Posted by: Callipygia | February 23, 2007 at 11:11 AM
this post reminds me how much i'm craving a good salad. i have not been eating me greens!! this looks delish, wish i had one right now at my desk!!
Posted by: aria | February 23, 2007 at 11:34 AM
As much as I love rocket, I don't know that it could sway me long from my junkie-food urges! More power to you!
Posted by: s'kat | February 23, 2007 at 03:23 PM
Good for you for resisting the Cheetos urge! Those berries look so much better anyway. And your salad ... delicious!
Posted by: Alisha | February 23, 2007 at 03:43 PM
Love this salad. So fresh! Reminds me a lot of a salad I make myself! Funny!
Posted by: bea at La tartine gourmande | February 23, 2007 at 06:09 PM
This salad looks absolutely fabulous. I had one like this about a year ago and loved the combination of pears, walnuts and cheese. I'm going to add your version to the menu for next week. Thanks!
Posted by: Ari (Baking and Books) | February 23, 2007 at 06:21 PM
I love your salad! I love making salad combos like this for guests. Fresh and healthy. Addicting photos.
Posted by: Helen | February 23, 2007 at 06:46 PM
So pretty. I made arugula salad this week and could not get a good photo of it to save my life. (Tried four different times, and they were all a little fuzzy. It's a little disconcerting coming face to face with how little I actually know about phtography!)
BTW, in my previous life I was a huge Cheetos junkie.
Posted by: Kalyn | February 23, 2007 at 08:02 PM
Good for you, resisting the siren call of the Cheetoes!
I've been obsessed with pears lately and keep meaning to throw them in a salad. This looks pretty perfect!
Posted by: Shannon | February 23, 2007 at 10:29 PM
mmmmmm - looks yummy! (Sher, quit talking about Cheetos. You are responsible, now, for the massive craving I have for them. And there aren't any at the store here!!)
Posted by: Jenn | February 24, 2007 at 08:25 AM
One of my all time favorite salads Sher!! And you make it look so very beautiful!
Should we form a Cheetos-cravings support group? :))
Posted by: Christine | February 24, 2007 at 11:29 AM
The candied walnuts are inspired and they go so perfectly with pears! It looks delicious and summery! Now we just need the sun!
Posted by: Freya | February 25, 2007 at 06:27 AM