Gorgonzola, pear and Chicken Salad with hazelnut and Balsamic Glaze is a combination of textures. On the palate, you’ll feel the creamy cheese, the crunchy hazelnuts, the soft, sweet pear, the meaty chicken and the herbaceous flavor of the spinach, all topped with a sweet and sour balsamic glaze.
Why you will love this recipe
– This salad is pretty easy to make but requires some organization.
– This salad is gluten-free and serves as a main dish.
– The different textures make it very interesting.
– It is full of nutrients and packed with proteins.
– The balsamic glaze is a great touch to complement the flavors.
Gorgonzola, Pear & Chicken Salad recipe ingredients
While I’ve talked enough about gorgonzola cheese, I would like to say a few things about pears, spinach, hazelnuts and balsamic glaze.
Pears
They are in season from September, and, along with berries and apples, are an ideal fruit to eat now. In Italy we eat pears as fruit, or in a risotto. A popular recipe is taleggio pear risotto, taleggio being a soft cheese. Desserts like pears in red wine, cakes with mascarpone and pear are very popular, and a great combination is with Gorgonzola cheese. Pear Gorgonzola Salad is in fact one of the classic appetizers in Italy.
Spinach
This leafy green is extremely rich in iron, vitamin K and calcium. It also has a good amount of protein, which makes it ideal for a vegan and vegetarian diet. In Italy, we usually eat spinach in raw salads or sautéed with garlic and extra virgin olive oil, as a side dish. A popular Italian recipe is Torta Pasqualina or Easter Pie, a Ligurian dish made with a spinach filling, ricotta and eggs and covered with phyllo leaves. We also use spinach to make fresh pasta, if you want to try it, check out the recipe called Straw and Hay Homemade Fettuccine.
Hazelnut
Saying hazelnut is like saying Nutella! Yes, the creamy, chocolatey, velvety, famous Italian custard is made from hazelnuts! Hazelnuts are rich in nutrients, especially potassium, vitamin K and magnesium. They contain a good amount of protein. In Italy, hazelnuts are used in confectionery and in the production of Frangelico, a liqueur.
Balsamic Glaze
Modena is the area known for the production of Balsamic Vinegar. This is an intensely flavored vinegar made from grape must. Balsamic glaze is a reduction of balsamic vinegar and sugar. It has a sweet and sour taste, ideal over salad and sometimes over ice cream and strawberries.
How to make Gorgonzola, Pear & Chicken Salad With Hazelnut and Balsamic Glaze
Begin by washing the vegetables and fruit. Marinate the chicken in extra virgin olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Cut the gorgonzola into cubes. Chop the hazelnuts. Place a grill pan on the stovetop. Slice the pears and brush them with olive oil and lemon so they don’t get too dark. Once the grill pan is hot, grill the pears until they have the markings. Place them on the side. 
Grill the chicken, and cover it with aluminum foil. Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing, except for the balsamic glaze.
Slice the chicken. Place the spinach, cheese, and grilled pear on the plate, and place the sliced chicken in the center.
Pour the dressing over the top. Drizzle it with balsamic glaze. Serve it and enjoy it! MANGIA!
Gorgonzola, Pear & Chicken Salad recipe variations and substitutions
You can sub the hazelnuts with pecans or walnuts.
If you cannot find gorgonzola cheese, you can replace it with any other kind of blue cheese, Stilton is a good choice.
If are in a rush you can skip grilling the pears, and just slice them.
You can sub pears with Granny Smith apples. Instead of chicken, you can try this salad with beef strips. This salad is gluten-free and serves as a main dish.
If you omit the chicken, it is also suitable for vegetarians.
More salads recipe ideas for YOU
Kale Cannellini Salad with Arugula Mint Pesto
Pesto Salad with Shrimp and Mixed Grains
More chicken recipe ideas for YOU
Crispy Chicken Parmesan (Chicken Parmigiana.
Chicken Meatballs with Mushrooms
Serving suggestions
This salad is perfect for lunch, it’s nutrient-dense thanks to the hazelnuts, chicken and cheese. If you like, you can turn it into an appetizer or side dish. Just take away the chicken and cut the portions in half. It will be sophisticated enough to make its appearance at Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Which wine to pair with Gorgonzola, Pear & Chicken Salad
White wine definitely goes with this salad. A Muller Thurgau from Alto Adige is a good choice. Its floral and citrus notes balance the richness of the cheese and the mild flavor of the pear, and it pairs perfectly with poultry. Considering the sharpness of the Gorgonzola and the sweetness of the pear, a Moscato d’Asti from Piemonte is another good choice, especially if you are serving this as an appetizer, without the chicken.
Ingredients
For the chicken and its marinade
- 1½ pound chicken breast skinless, boneless
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tsp thyme dried
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper crushed
For the salad
- 8 cup spinach
- 2 tbsp hazelnut toasted, chopped
- 4 tbsp gorgonzola cubed
- 2 unit pears medium size
For the dressing
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- ½ tbsp vinegar apple cider
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper crushed
- 2 tbsp balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Start by marinating the chicken breast with the olive oil and thyme. Set aside. Palce a grilling pan on the stovetop and start to warm it up.
- Cut the gorgonzola in cubes.
- Toast the hazelnut. Once toasted, crush them and set aside.
- Cut the pears in halve, then slice each half into slices of 1/8 and 1/4 inch thickness. Brush them with evoo and lemon, (see notes). Grill the pears for 1 minute on each side until they show the grilling marks. Set them aside.
- Grill the chicken, until well cooked.
- Assemble the salad starting by the spinach, the add the cheese, the pears, the chicken cut in slices, top with the hazelnuts and drizzle over the dressing and only at the end the balsamic glaze. Enjoy it!
Notes
- The oil will avoid them to stick while grilling, while the lemon it will prevent the darkening.
- You can sub the hazelnuts with pecans or walnuts.
- If you cannot find gorgonzola cheese, you can replace with any other kind of blue cheese, Stilton is a good choice.
- If are in a rush you can skip grilling the pears, and just slice them. You can sub pears Granny Smith apples.
- Instead of chicken, you can try this salad with beef strips.
Nutrition
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