Pear Stilton And Chicory Salad With Crispy Chestnuts Recipes

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté chestnuts with salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until crisp on outside (being careful not to burn or cook until hard), about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Halve and core pears, then cut lengthwise into thin slices.
• Whisk together mustard, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl and add remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in shallot.
• Add chicory, chestnuts, pears, and Stilton and toss until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Cut the pear quarters into thin slices and toss in a bowl with the lime juice to help protect their natural colour. Blend the crème fraîche with half the stilton, ginger syrup to taste, and enough water (3-4 tbsp) to give a smooth, thick coating consistency. (Don't add too much water or it may separate.)
• Scatter the pear slices over six serving plates and follow with the walnuts, dates and remaining cheese. Can be prepared to this stage up to an hour ahead.
• Drizzle each salad with a little of the dressing and some walnut oil. Season with a grinding of pepper - you shouldn't need salt, as the cheese is salty. Mix the salad leaves and watercress very lightly with just a bit more dressing - some leaves should be touched by the dressing, some untouched. Gently pile the leaves on top of each salad.

Steps:

• In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, the mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. In a bowl toss the lettuce with half the dressing and divide the salad among 4 plates. Halve and core the pear and cut it lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange one fourth of the pear slices decoratively on each plate, divide the Stilton and the pecans among the salads, and drizzle the remaining dressing on top.

Steps:

• Discard the outer leaves from the chicory and slice in half lengthways. Cut out the base root, then slice into long, thin slivers and rinse. Pat dry and put in a bowl. Cut each pear quarter into 3 and toss with a little lemon juice to prevent discolouring. Add to the bowl with the parsley and walnut halves.
• Make a dressing by mixing the walnut oil with the remaining lemon juice and seasoning, then add to the bowl. Toss everything together, then plate up, crumbling over the cheese. Serve immediately.