Greens with Manchego, Pears,and Pepitas

By Mareblu • November 9, 2009 • 0 Comments

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Author Notes: This is a salad loved at our family pot luck gatherings. It was inspired by a recipe from Gourmet Magazine a few years back. It is sweet, tart, and savory all in one! - Mareblu

Makes 8 servings

1/3 cup green (hulled) Pumpkin seeds (pepitas;not toasted) if you wish to skip this part of step(1) use toasted salted pepitas
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons Sherry vinegar/red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon mild honey
1 teaspoon grainy mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon peper
4 cups spicy/bitter salad greens(packed); radish greens,watercress,and arugula,discard the stems
4 cups frisee(curly endive packed), torn into bite-sized pieces
1 (1/2 pound) piece Manchego cheese, shaved into about 30-35 thin slices
8 small red or yellow Bartlett pears
1/4 cup or about 2 handfuls pomegranate seeds

Cook seeds in 1 tablespoon oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-low, stiring frequently, until beginning to be toasty brown, about 3-4 minutes. transfer to a paper towel and reserve oil. Season seeds with salt and peper.(Skip this step if you have toasted salted pepitas)
Whisk together or in a jar, add together vinegar,honey,mustard,1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Add remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and reserved oil from skillet (if no skillet oil add 1 tablespoon more olive oil) whisking together or shake jar until emulsified.
Toss greens, Manchego cheese, pears, and pomegranates together with dressing. Sprinkle with papitas seeds and serve.