Savory Bosc Pears with Bacon, Walnuts, and White Wine Vinaigrette

Yo yo yo! I’ve got a very delicious salad to share with you today. It’s made with Bosc pears.

I would save this for when you want to treat yourself. Or if you need something special for a party or a potluck. It’s not an ordinary dish.

It would be a solid choice if there were people you were trying to impress. Yourself included.

The pears are coated in bacon fat and tossed with toasted walnuts. You then drizzle an olive oil-mustard-white wine-vinaigrette and top with chives. Sound fancy? It is.

But it’s easier to make than you might think!

Savory Pears

When I think of pears, I don’t really imagine eating them in a savory manner. I was used to eating them raw, cooked in wine or in baked goods for example.

This was the first time I’ve had them sauteed and I liked it a lot.

The bosc pears maintain their shape quite well in the pan. And they are a good contrast to the crunchy nuts and savory mustard bacon vinaigrette.

Bosc pears are not overly sweet or overly juicy. As a result, they maintain a fine balance of all that’s going on here.

There are a lot of different flavors and textures playing with each other. But they are playing nicely. It is a unique experience for sure.

I haven’t had anything like this before. And that, is what makes this pear salad such a standout.

Plus it will make your house smell fantastic.

Lastly, you don’t need any obscure ingredients to enjoy the complex flavors that make this dish so special. So, I hope you get a chance to try this one out!

PS – If you need a side for your office potluck or holiday party,  have a look at some of my recipes below. Hopefully, you will find a gold nugget below(an edible one that is):

• Roasted Carrots, Onion, and Fennel with a Spiced Sherry Vinaigrette
• Any of my salads 
• No-Bake Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with Pomegranate 
• Almost no bake Goat Cheesecake with Honey, Greek Yogurt, and Pistachio crust 
• Maple Walnut Biscotti
• Spiced Pumpkin Ice Cream with Bourbon 
• Strawberry Ice Cream with Vodka Infused Berries
• Coffee Jelly with Cream

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Savory Bosc Pears with Bacon, Walnuts and White Wine Vinaigrette

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• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 people 1x
• Category: side
• Cuisine: New American

Ingredients

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• 6 ounces bacon
• 4 firm and ripe Bosc pears (quartered, seeds removed,)
• Freshly ground Pepper
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dijon (or whole grain mustard)
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (or walnut oil if you want to splurge)
• 1/2 cup raw walnuts (roasted )
• Sliced chives (for serving)

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Instructions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees and toast walnuts on a baking sheet for approximately 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
2. Cook bacon in a large pan on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Once crisp around edges, transfer to a dish with paper towels to soak up extra oil.
3. Pour off excess bacon fat from the pan, leaving at least 1 Tbsp. Season pears with pepper and cook in pan with bacon fat on medium-high heat approximately 5 minutes. Rotate so sides brown evenly.
4. Meanwhile, combine vinegar, mustard, and 3 Tbsp. olive oil in a small bowl. Season with pepper.
5. Once pears are nicely browned, add in walnuts and bacon. Drizzle dressing over everything and mix so there is an even coating. Top with chives and serve!

Notes

Use whole grain mustard if you want less sweet and more savory.

I’ve made this with olive oil and walnut oil. Walnut oil imparts additional walnut flavor, but it is very delicate. So unless you have some, not something I would worry about.