The holidays are once again upon us. Thanksgiving is month away and Christmas and New Year’s Eve is right around the corner. This is the season for visits with family and friends. It’s time to start start thinking about some cozy last minute meals for guests who may spend the weekend.
Farmstands and farmer’s markets are packed with Autumn fruit – pears, apples, figs and grapes which are all ripe and delicious. A salad made with poached Bosch pears, fresh figs and baby spinach is a hearty salad for this time of year. For those who like to can or preserve fruit such as pears, this is a recipe that you can enjoy throughout the winter.
This Autumn fruit salad is great with some seasoned walnuts or a sprinkle of goat cheese if you like. Toss with your favorite balsmic vinagrette and serve with crustry whole wheat or gluten free bread.
Autumn fruit salad with poached pears, figs and baby spinach
Fruit salad ingredients – make night before
4 Bosch pears
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1/2 cup of cranberry juice
10 small figs
2 cups of baby spinach
1 1/2 cups walnut pieces*
Prepare the night before: Peel, core and cube the pears and simmer in 1/2 cup of Nautique white wine (see below) for 10 minutes with a sprinkle of sugar at the end (minute 8). Allow to cool and refridgerate overnight. Next, slice figs into sections of 4. Toss with cranberry juice and sprinkle brown sugar. Refridgerate over night to macerate.
If you are serving this salad for lunch or brunch along with other accompaniements, prepare them first (pan fry your turkey bacon and plate it). Just before serving, toss all ingredients with vinaigrette and serve immediately. Don’t forget that dressings will wilt your greens. So you need to toss just before serving.
Poach your pears and serve this autumn recipe with a chilled bottle of Nautique Esprit de Blanc, a new line from Peconic Bay Winery. Great review from Lenn Thompson of LennDevours from his New York Cork Report. To read Lenn’s review click here>>>
Producer: Peconic Bay Winery
AVA: North Fork of Long Island
ABV: 12.8%
Price: $16*
