Frisée Pear Blue Cheese Prosciutto (Printable)

Bitter frisée meets sweet pears, creamy blue cheese, and crispy prosciutto in a tangy vinaigrette.

# Components:

→ Salad Base

01 - 1 large head frisée lettuce, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced
03 - 3.5 oz blue cheese, crumbled
04 - 6 slices prosciutto
05 - 1 oz toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped

→ Vinaigrette

06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1 tsp honey
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange prosciutto slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Let cool completely, then break into large shards.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine frisée lettuce, sliced pears, crumbled blue cheese, and toasted nuts.
05 - Drizzle vinaigrette over salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Top with crispy prosciutto shards immediately before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The interplay of textures from crisp prosciutto, tender pears, and curly frisée keeps every bite interesting
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but looks like something from a restaurant menu
  • The vinaigrette strikes that perfect balance between tangy and slightly sweet
02 -
  • Prosciutto can go from perfectly crisp to burned quickly, so set a timer and check it at the 8 minute mark
  • The vinaigrette tastes better after sitting for 10 minutes, so make it first while the oven preheats
  • Dont dress the salad until you're ready to serve, or the frisée will wilt and lose its satisfying crunch
03 -
  • Dry your frisée thoroughly after washing, or the dressing will slide right off those curly leaves
  • Use your hands to toss the salad, they're gentler than tongs and help distribute the dressing evenly
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