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Vegetarian, Classics and bistro fare

Blue cheese and pear toasts with walnut salad

Blue cheese and pear toasts are slices of country bread broiled with blue cheese and pear, served with a walnut salad. For 4 people, plan on 20 minutes and a budget of €2.50 per person. The difficulty is very easy, and success mostly depends on watching the broiler closely so the cheese melts without burning.

Tonight, we're making big slices of country bread broiled with blue cheese and pear, with a walnut salad on the side.

Blue cheese and pear toasts with walnut salad
Total time
20 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.50
Calories per person
730 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Blue cheese melts into a creamy layer on the warm bread, with a tangy edge that the juicy sweetness of the pear softens. Toasted country bread gives the crunch that would be missing if you served the cheese alone, and the walnut salad brings fresh contrast on the side. It's a play on textures more than a complicated recipe.

This is the kind of dinner you throw together on a weeknight when the fridge has leftover blue cheese and a few pears sitting around. It also works well for a relaxed adult dinner, set on the table with just the salad, no fuss required. Kids who prefer mild cheese might find the blue too sharp, this is more of a recipe for palates already used to strong flavors.

The ingredients

4 people

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Dairy

  • Blue d'Auvergne cheese 200 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Pears 3
  • Green lettuce 1
  • Walnuts 8

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Balsamic vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Mustardoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Tree nuts

The step by step recipe

  1. Turn the oven to broil at 220°C and arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet.

    Broil them alone for two minutes first, they'll stay crisp under the topping.

  2. Peel the pears, cut them into thin slices, and arrange them over the bread.

    Drizzle them with a bit of lemon juice if prepping ahead, they won't brown.

  3. Crumble the blue cheese over the pears and add a generous grind of pepper.

    Take the blue cheese out of the fridge fifteen minutes ahead, it spreads and melts faster.

  4. Broil until the cheese is fully melted and lightly golden. 6 min

    Stay near the oven, blue cheese turns from golden to burnt in a flash.

  5. Make the dressing with the mustard, vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper, toss the salad, and scatter crushed walnuts on top.

    Toast the walnuts dry in a pan for two minutes to bring out their crunch.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a blue cheese that isn't too young, it melts better and its flavor pairs more naturally with the sweetness of the pear.
  • Cut the bread fairly thick, around half an inch, so it can hold the topping without turning soggy.
  • If your pears are still firm, that's actually better, they hold their shape under the broiler instead of turning mushy.

The variations

  • Swap the blue cheese for gorgonzola or Roquefort for a milder or stronger flavor depending on which one you pick.
  • Add a few slices of prosciutto under the cheese if you want a more filling, meal sized version.
  • For a milder version kids will like, use goat cheese or Swiss cheese instead of blue, pear works just as well with both.

What to serve it with

  • A glass of sweet white wine
  • A vegetable soup starter
  • Fresh figs in season

Storage

These toasts are best eaten right away, the bread softens as it cools. You can prep the pears and salad ahead of time and keep them in the fridge in a sealed container for up to a day. Always broil the toasts at the last minute, right before serving.

Questions about this dish

Can I make these toasts ahead of time?

You can peel the pears and crumble the blue cheese a few hours ahead and keep everything in the fridge. Assemble and broil the toasts only at the last minute so the bread stays crisp.

What bread works if I don't have country bread?

A multigrain loaf or a slightly stale baguette both work well, as long as the slice is thick enough to hold the topping. Avoid very soft bread, it gets soggy fast.

Can I use a different fruit instead of pear?

Apple works really well in place of pear, sliced thin the same way. Fresh grapes cut in half are another option that pairs nicely with blue cheese.

How do I keep the blue cheese from burning under the broiler?

Stay by the oven during the six minutes of broiling, blue cheese goes from golden to burnt very fast. If your broiler runs hot, place the tray a bit lower in the oven.

How long does it take to make blue cheese and pear toasts with a walnut salad?

Count 20 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in blue cheese and pear toasts with a walnut salad?

About 730 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does blue cheese and pear toasts with a walnut salad cost?

About €2.50 per serving, or €10.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, tree nuts. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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