Spring

Chilled Pasta Salad with Chicken, Pears, Blue Cheese, and Basil

July  9, 2010
5
1 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes


Basil is usually paired with mozzarella cheese but this chunky pasta salad marries basil with blue cheese. The chicken meat absorbs the sweet juice from fresh pears. A simple vinaigrette of Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, and honey brings together the entire ensemble with a medley of complimentary flavors.
Garden Gate Kate

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Ingredients
  • 1 pound whole wheat fusilli pasta
  • 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound pears, quartered and cored
  • 1/4 pound crumbled blue cheese
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn in half
Directions
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. When fusilli is done, drain in a colander and chill under cold running water. Drain again.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, honey, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Add chicken, pears, blue cheese, basil leaves, and fusilli. Toss and serve.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

1 Review

Synky March 20, 2012
Wow!!! Everyone absolutely loved this salad! The dressing combination is a really nice blend. The local store didn't have a rotisserie chicken, but they had a chicken in tomato sauce which worked really well. Pears are a nice touch, I chopped them up pretty well, which made them juice! For us this portion is enough for 8-10 servings. Thank you!