I adapted this recipe from a Seattle Times recipe published way back in August, 2007. I didn’t expect to find one of the prime ingredients, smokey blue cheese, at my local grocer, but I’m glad I did, because it’s heavenly. I tweaked the dressing, as I love the combination of tangy fruit with minced ginger and fresh mint.
Roasted Plums, Blue Cheese and Pecans With Ginger Mint Dressing
30 min
| Serves 4 |
195 calories per serving
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 ripe plums
- 5 ounces ready-to-eat salad greens such as red leaf lettuce, Boston lettuce, mache, or other mild greens
- 1 ounce pecans, roughly chopped and lightly toasted (about 2 tablespoons, chopped)
- 1 1/2 ounces smokey blue cheese,* crumbled
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey (or substitute 1 tablespoon sugar)
Ginger Mint Dressing
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 generous teaspoon fresh mint, chopped fine
- 2 teaspoons fresh, finely minced ginger
- Salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
Directions
Prepare the plums: Preheat the oven to 400°. Slice each plum into 6 wedges and remove the pits. Arrange on a baking sheet lined with tin foil or parchment paper, skin side down, and drizzle the honey over the plums (see photo). If using sugar, sprinkle it over the plums. Roast at 400° for about 15 minutes or until fork tender and beginning to brown. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients together with a fork or wire whisk until well emulsified, or, combine together in a small jar, shaking well.
Assemble the salad: Transfer the salad greens to a serving bowl. Toss with a light coating of the dressing, about 3 tablespoons. Add salt and fresh ground pepper to taste and toss again. Arrange the roasted plums on top of the salad. Drizzle additional dressing over the roasted plums, if desired. Garnish with the crumbled blue cheese and toasted pecans. Prepare yourself for lots of compliments, ’cause they’re right around the corner…
Serve immediately, and enjoy!
*If you can’t find smokey blue cheese at a nearby grocer, substitute a good crumbly- type blue cheese (Maytag, Cabrales, or Stilton are all excellent choices), or go to amazon.com :
Here is more information about blue cheese.
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