Monday, March 24, 2014

Spring Green Salad With Caramelized Pears, Blue Cheese and Crisp Jamon Serrano



Spring is in the air and things start to green up.
So wave the winter blues good bye and get out in the fresh air, enjoy the breeze and live.
It's time for fresh seasonal products and I promise your vitamin intake has never tasted so delicious and crunchy.
This salad is thrown together in a few minutes, but still fancy enough to entertain.
Anyhow, who wants to spent hours in the kitchen, when the sun is shining for the first time after so many long, cold winter days?
When I went shopping at the farmers market, I'm afraid that I must have behaved a bit like a junky  because I couldn't get my eyes off all these beautiful, vitamin loaded greeneries and bought far too many.
Lettuce is filled with chlorophyll, vitamin C, a good source of fiber, potassium and folate.
OK, I know it might be still cold and wet on some days but no doubt, spring is in the air and it's quite legal to get a bit over enthusiastic or, as Emily Dickinson wrote so beautifully:
" A little Madness in the spring is wholesome even for the king"
Spring greens do not only taste delicious, but are beautiful in flower arrangements as well.
In this one I combined green lettuce, red lettuce and yellow roses.


Here is what you will need to prepare the spring salad:
About 1 pound fresh , mixed greens ( I used butter head, red leaf, baby spinach and arugula)
2 pears, peeled and cut in cubes
1 cup jamon Serrano
3 figs ,quartered
1/2 cup blue cheese cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 

For the Honey Mustard dressing: 
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Put all ingredients (except for salt and pepper) in a medium bowl and whisk  together until creamy.
Season the dressing with salt and pepper. 

Method:
  Preheat oven to  200 °C.
Cut the jamon Serrano in medium sized pieces, place on a baking sheet with parchment paper.

If you want the jamon extra crisp brush with a bit of olive oil.
Bake in preheated oven at 200°C (375 F) for about  ten minutes or until jamon serrano starts to crinkle and changes color..
To drain the excess fat, place the baked jamon on a paper towel.
Apart, place pears on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Sprinkle with lemon juice and brown sugar.
Bake in preheated oven at 200°C (375 F) for about 10-15 minute.

Quarter figs and crumble Blue cheese.





































In a large bowl, combine greens, pears and blue cheese.
Before serving add the honey mustard dressing and toss to combine.
Sprinkle the crisp jamon serrano on top.









Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this post and want to receive the newest updates, do like our page on Facebook.
Thank you!
https://www.facebook.com/TheAmbassadorsTable





Share this article

81 comments:

  1. You are so right, this is my favorite way to get my vitamins. Beautiful colors, textures and flavors. Sharp, sweet, salty and crunchy. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen,
      I couldn't agree more with you, it's so much nicer than taking vitamin pills :)
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. Me encanta la combinación del queso azul con las peras, son la pareja perfecta. Ahora, ponerle higos me ha parecido genial, y lo maravilloso es que aún podemos conseguir higos en el mercado, quizás ya los últimos de la temporada, pero aún ricos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hola Nydia,
      Es cierto ,hay que disfrutar los higos mientras dura la temporada.
      Me alegro mucho que te ha gustado el post!

      Delete
  3. Oh my, I love green salad! I wonder why some don't like vegetables when they are raw, or in the form of salad, that I find it insane! This is perfectly delicious and like you said, nutrition and vitamin-packed ;-)
    I've followed you on your FB page, loved it ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Christy,
      happy to hear that you liked this salad.
      I do agree that raw veggies have a lot of health benefits and taste nice and crunchy.
      Thank you for liking TAT at FB.

      Delete
    2. just shared your latest post on FB :)

      Delete
  4. I'm all about salads now. This one mixes up my favorite ingredients! Beautiful shots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Daniela! and Bon apetit for the salad season!

      Delete
  5. Daniela I love everything about this salad. Those figs and caramelizing the pears - oh yes please! Wonderful recipe thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tricia,
      Thank you so much for your sweet comment!

      Delete
  6. I love this bright and fresh spring salad!

    ReplyDelete
  7. A gorgeous, fresh, and delicious salad -- perfect to welcome Spring!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Denise,
      it's so nice to be able to finally welcome spring.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  8. Figs! I'd love a bowl of this for lunch.

    ReplyDelete
  9. My sister-in-law has a fig tree, so we get to use all of her delicious figs all summer long. It's the best. Love the caramelized pears in this salad. Delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Natalie,
      you are a lucky girl! Fresh figs from your own garden, there is nothing better than this.

      Delete
  10. OMG!
    This is perfect and going to be on my make to do list. I am so into salads these days. Thanks so much for sharing. Looks absolutely gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Asmita for your kind words, I really appreciate them!

      Delete
  11. A truly delightful salad, Daniela! I would savor every since bite. I'll be pinning these to remember :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad to hear that you liked the post Susann and thanks for pinning it :)

      Delete
  12. I love that arrangement! Perfect for our Passover table. And this salad? Love the combo of ingredients! Thanks, Daniella!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a big honor Abbe that you are thinking to serve this salad for Passover.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  13. Awesome salad Daniela...I absolutely love the fresh fig, caramelized pear tossed with blue cheese and crispy jamon...what a festival of textures and flavors...YUM!
    Have a wonderful week my dear :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much my friend for your sweet comment!
      Hugs.

      Delete
  14. such amazing textures and flavors in this salad...all we can think of is gorge on a big serving of this awesome dish,thanks for the inspiration our friend...HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi my friends, great to ave you back!
      Thanks for your inspiring comment.

      Delete
  15. You mean, figs? Or pears? Anyway, I love what I see and I would love to eat it too! :) ela

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ela,
      I suppose it's not a bad way to fulfill your daily vitamin intake ? :))
      Cheers.

      Delete
  16. Not only does this look like a really terrific salad, but I just LOVE the thought of using lettuce as floral greenery!!! Butter lettuce is so pretty, so soft, so feminine...it's the perfect pairing with flowers!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alycia,
      Tank you my friend for your great feedback. I just got inspired when I saw this
      fresh lettuce with it beautiful colors and thought why not try it in a little flower arrangement with a twist?

      Delete
  17. Wow, Daniela, this salad has all my favorite ingredients in it! Lovely! Love blue cheese and caramelized pears, especially in a healthy salad like that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Julia,
      You know what my son's ( who is not a huge salad fan) comment was?
      "That's a great excuse to eat blue cheese with pears" :)

      Delete
  18. What a lovely salad! And I love the idea of baking jamon serrano like that -- definitely will give that a try. Really great recipe -- thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi John,
      thanks for your kind words and I promise you will like the jamon Serrano prepared this way- so nice and crunchy.
      Cheers.

      Delete
  19. A beautiful and refined salad! Delicious.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  20. This looks fantastic and something I could easily try.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I just recently started using figs in my salads - they provide a nice sweetness. Plus, your caramelised pears would also satisfy my sweet tooth!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Fran,
      fresh figs are still in season here and they really worked well with this salad.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  22. So fresh and delicious! I crave salads every day but the funny thing is it always tastes better when someone else makes it for me...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi BAM,
      that's so true for me as well :)
      Have a great weekend!

      Delete
  23. Figs and pears with blue cheese is a wonderful combination! What a lovely salad. --I think I shop like a junkie at farmers' markets too! Love that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa,
      mi junkie like behavior what fresh veggies are concerned gets worst in spring when I'm craving for some crunchy greens :)
      Have a great weekend.

      Delete
  24. Love all the flavours in this salad! You can't beat the combo of blue cheese and figs, can you? The salad looks scrumptious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Angie,
      Thanks so much for your great feedback!
      I think by now we are all longing for spring and fresh salads :)

      Delete
  25. Beautiful salad! The combinations are lovely and it looks like spring on a plate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Taruna, hope you will enjoy your "spring on a plate" :)

      Delete
  26. What a way to spotlight figs...beautiful salad!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a beautiful salad, and the ham is the crowning glory!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Such a beautiful salad...totally speaks spring. Honey mustard dressing is a favourite in our house and this salad would be welcome even though we are moving towards colder days. I love the flavours in there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sonali,
      we too are all fans of Honey mustard dressing at home, I think because we all have a sweet tooth :)

      Delete
  29. Oh wow Daniela, that looks like one power salad. Can't wait to try it (I just need to find some fresh figs!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mike,
      still abit patience and you will get the fresh figs.
      We are still in summer and so we are lucky enough to get them fresh at the farmer's market.

      Delete
  30. I wish we grew fresh figs around here. They're such a beautiful addition to salads!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Beth,
      yes they are lovely and as we are still in summer we are lucky enough to get them fresh at the farmer's market.
      Cheers!

      Delete
  31. Liebe Daniela, ein wundervoller Salat mit so vielen leckeren Zutaten - außergewöhlich, gesund und lecker - solche Salate sind einfach die allerbesten!
    Ich wünsche dir einen wundervolle Woche und schicke ganz liebe Grüße aus dem sonnigen Bonn!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liebe Andrea,
      freu mich sehr, dasz Dir der Fruehlingssalat gefallen hat, wahrscheinlich die schmackhafteste Vitaminzufuhr :))
      Liebe Gruesze aus Lima!

      Delete
  32. Se ve riquísimo y colorida su ensalada sacaré mi porción para mañana,abrazos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gracias Rosita, te invito con mucho gusto una porción y con eso cumplimos también con nuestra diaria ración de vitaminas:))

      Delete
  33. There are so many wonderful elements that I love in this salad. I would eat the whole bowl right up. Its a bit to call it spring here but soon. Vitamins are needed for sure lol. Great pics too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Evelyn,
      we all need urgent a good vitamin supply and lots of sunshine too.
      So glad to hear that you enjoyed the post.
      Cheers.

      Delete
  34. There are so many wonderful elements that I love in this salad. I would eat the whole bowl right up. Its a bit to call it spring here but soon. Vitamins are needed for sure lol. Great pics too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Evelyn,
      we all need urgent a good vitamin supply and lots of sunshine too.
      So glad to hear that you enjoyed the post.
      Cheers.

      Delete
  35. i am SO excited for fig season!! What a great salad!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Joanne, for us here it's still fig season but soon it's the turn of your hemisphere :)
    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh wow, Daniela you've really out done yourself with this salad. Everything is absolutely perfect. Thank you for sharing!:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Nancy for your great feedback, glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe!
      Cheers

      Delete
  38. You are making me hungry. I love salads like this, it hits on all the taste buds.

    Madonna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Madonna,
      it's the perfect season for salads and it's a great source of vitamins and minerals.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  39. This looks lovely, and I love the idea of caramelized pears and fresh figs on the salad! I didn't think of this combination but as I look at your photos, I'm more excited to give this a try! Looks scrumptious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nami,
      I'm flattered about your comment, thank you so much!

      Delete
  40. Hi Daniela, I love your yellow roses with lettuce, it look really beautiful. Very creative.
    Your salad definitely look delightful and refreshing, excellent combination. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    Have a lovely week ahead,regards. Hugs to you my dear friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Amelia,
      so nice to hear that you liked the little lettuce bouquet!
      There is more to do with lettuce than just salad :)
      Have a wonderful week, hugs to you and thanks again for offering advice when I had problems with my template.

      Delete

 
Copyright © 2014 The Ambassador's Table • All Rights Reserved.
back to top