April 2011 - Cider Poached Pear

Cider Poached Pear Bacon and Blue Cheese Salad

This is a really tasty salad that always goes well in the restaurant. It’s got everything, Sweet, Savoury, Crunchy and creamy all in one dish. I like to poach the pears the day before and serve them cold with hot bacon.

You will need per person;

Ingredients:

1x pear, peeled stem left on if possible

2x rasher of streaky bacon

As much blue cheese as you like

150ml sweet or medium cider

100ml apple juice or water

50g sugar

Pinch of cinnamon

2xtablespoon of olive oil

1x slice of bread cut into small squares for croutons

Salad leaves of your choice

Salt and pepper

Method:

In a large pan put the cider, apple juice, sugar and cinnamon. Heat slowly until just under the boil. Add the peeled pears and simmer very gently until tender.

Remove from heat and allow to cool in the juice before leaving in the fridge overnight.

Fry the cut up bread in a little of the oil and put to one side

Grill the bacon until crisp, break or cut the cheese into small bits and combine with the salad leaves a drop of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, lastly add the croutons just before serving

Cut the bottom off the pear so that it will stand upright on a plate and put a nice big pile of the salad mixture to one side