fruit

sweet pear and apple salad with bitter chicory and a creamy blue cheese dressing

servings
4

method

This is an adaptation of an old-school French chicory salad. Chicory, also known as Belgian endive, is quite a bitter leaf, and to contrast the bitterness I’ve used the sweetness of the fruit, the twang of the vinegar and the creamy silkiness of the cheese. I think it’s important to make this with good-quality apples and blue cheese.

Separate the leaves from the chicory, then wash and spin them dry. Core your apples and slice them into matchsticks. Core the pears, slice into eighths and if they’re a little underripe, grill them in a screaming hot griddle pan until lightly charred. If they’re perfectly ripe, just place in a large bowl with the chicory, apple and most of the herbs.

To make your dressing, place all your dressing ingredients into a liquidizer and blend for just 15 seconds until smooth. Taste to make sure you’ve got a little extra acidity in there to cut through the bitterness of the leaves, and season if necessary. Pour three-quarters of the dressing over the salad and toss – I usually dress the salad lightly using the tips of my fingers. Divide them between four plates, and finish with a little extra dressing, the remaining herbs and a little extra virgin olive oil. Lovely with some walnuts crumbled over.

• from Jamie at Home

ingredients

• 4 heads of chicory (a mixture of red and white if possible)
• 2 good English eating apples
• 2 pears
• a handful of fresh soft herbs (chervil, tarragon, parsley – use any one, or a mixture), torn or roughly chopped

for the blue cheese dressing
• 50g strong blue cheese
• 50g crème fraîche
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus a little extra for drizzling
• 4 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 6 tablespoons water

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tried this recipe or a similar one? share your tips...

1. by AMELIA SOUZA on Fri 12 Aug 2011 @ 15:15

Olá, Jaime, vc tem um público, realmente grande e fiel, aqui no Brasil, venha conhecer nosso país, vc vai adorar, as coisas gotosas e estranhas da nossa culinária<br /> bjs!

2. by kitchenvoyage on Sun 27 Feb 2011 @ 19:59

I really I wasnt a big fan of chicory but I discover the recipe in Jamie 30 min and now i think I will try with the creamy blue cheese. Thanks<br /> http://kitchenvoyage.blogspot.com

3. by elaine on Tue 30 Sep 2008 @ 11:42

Hi Jamie I'm brazilian living in london for some time, love your recipes and people in brazil realy like you!!!!!
A book in portugues would be great, people would love it and my mother woul be happy too...
thank you!
Elaine

4. by caroline on Mon 29 Sep 2008 @ 15:11

Hi Jamie !

I'm Brasilian and my english is poor ! but I need to tell for you ..... I love You !
You have a lot fans in Brazil !

Thank you !

Caroline

5. by Natália Fávero on Fri 26 Sep 2008 @ 14:23

Olá, Jaime, vc tem um público, realmente grande e fiel, aqui no Brasil, venha conhecer nosso país, vc vai adorar, as coisas gotosas e estranhas da nossa culinária, minha mãe adora suas receitas e eu tb.
Bj .

6. by shayena viana on Tue 23 Sep 2008 @ 20:28

faça uma versão em português... você tem público pra tanto !!
um grande abraço do Brasil...

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