Ingredients

  • Roasted pecans
  • 3 teaspoons of molasses
  • 1 teaspoon chestnut honey
  • 1 tablespoon ground sumac
  • 2 teaspoons premium tamari
  • 1 cup pecans, shelled and whole
  • The salad
  • 2 pears, cored, each one cut into ten segments, peeled or not, to your liking
  • 2 ounces olive oil (EVOO)
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar, pear infused
  • 1 1/2-2 teaspoons chestnut honey, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, to taste
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • dash of fresh milled white peppercorns
  • 1 tablespoon fresh Meyer lemon juice, to taste
  • 1 tsp. of Domaine de Canton, Poire Williams or St. Germain, optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon peeled grated fresh ginger
  • 1/2 cup deseeded red grapes, halved, optionally peeled, recommended but optional
  • 4 ounces blue cheese, Maytag, crumpled
  • 4 cups seasonal petite greens such as baby spinach and arugula
  • sprinkle of Maldon salt flakes

Method

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Mix the honey and molasses together. In a saucer evenly coat the pecans with this mix.
  • Mix in the sumac. Then finish with the tamari. This makes a sticky mess, but it will be worth it.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Letting the excess coating drip off each pecan, line them up on the parchment.
  • Roast until browned and drier in the oven for 10-15 minutes, but do not let blacken. Let cool on an icing tray.
  • For a warm version of this salad roast the cut, pared pears for 15 minutes in a 450 degree oven in a baking dish lightly coated with olive oil. Otherwise prepare the fresh pears into slices, pared or with skin, your preference.
  • Emulsify the oil, vinegar, honey, and mustard in a covered jar. Add the ginger, lemon juice, optional spirit, pepper and salt to the jar and shake. Test with a greenleaf and adjust accordingly for acidity, sweetness, brightness and saltiness.
  • Lightly toss the greens with some of the dressing and plate. Next arrange the pears in a concentric pattern preferably on top. Add the peeled grapes, pecans and blue cheese. Drizzle a bit more of the dressing over this layer. Add a sprinkle of Maldon salt flakes to finish.