Pear Salad with Walnuts & Pecorino Sardo

Do any of you like to think up recipes when you can’t sleep? Is it just me? While I wouldn’t say it’s something that I do every night, from the moment the delicious sheep cheeses from 3Pecorini arrived, I was all about researching the best pairings and dreaming up the recipes that I could create to feature these delicious cheeses.

While I can choose my favorite cheese out of the four, I have to say that there wasn’t one cheese that I disliked. They were also so full of flavor whether you enjoy them on their own, because who doesn’t like to snack while you’re preparing a dish?!

Since our Pecorino Sardo was the mature variety, we decided to use to create the most delicious cheese shavings atop a pear salad.

While there are a variety of green options to choose from, I quite prefer a Bibb Lettuce, although spinach or mixed greens would also make a nice option. Lettuce is known for its hydrating properties (they have up to 96% water content) so if you were wondering why summer salads are so refreshing, now you know why.

For our toppings, we added sliced Anjou Pears, walnuts, our shaved Pecorino Sardo Maturo, and a little drizzle of pear balsamic. De-lish!

About Pecorino Sardo

Both of these cheeses are considered table cheese, and along with Fiore Sardo, Pecorino Sardo is also considered to be one of Sardinia’s oldest cheeses. Both of these cheeses pair well with bread, pasta, honey, and fruit (especially pears), nuts, vegetables (for a soft sweet finish), and cured meats.

If you’re thinking of adding it to a dish, it pairs quite well with an antipasto, baked pasta dishes, veggie soups, frittatas and quiches, and salad. If you’re planning to enjoy it on its own, pears, sweet grapes, and dried nuts make the ideal accompaniment.

Pear Salad with Bibb Lettuce, Walnuts and Pecorino Sardo

Ingredients —

• 1 head of Bibb Lettuce (washed and torn)
• 1-2 pears (sliced)
• Walnut pieces
• 3Pecorini Pecorino Sardo Maturo (shaved)
• Balsamic Vinegar (optional)

Directions —

To assemble salad, place freshly washed Bibb Lettuce in plate or bowl. Add sliced pears, walnut pieces, shaved Pecorino Sardo Maturo and top with your favorite balsamic vinegar.