Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Green Salad Recipe (2024)

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Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Green Salad Recipe (1)

I'm bringing these fun Gorgonzola Cheese Cups filled with a Pear and Hazelnut Green Salad to a surprise virtual baby shower. There's nothing more exciting than the imminent arrival of a new baby. When that baby is coming to someone as sweet as Jen of My Kitchen Addiction and her husband, that calls for a celebration, full of great food and drinks.

While I know Jen through her wonderful blog (full of amazing sweet and savory dishes, as well as helpful "how to" ideas), I also know her through a decidedly non-food channel.

Many of you may not know this, but Jen is also the venerable leader of Cookie Crushers, the fantasy football team that just might pummel my team, Panfrying Pigskins, in our next matchup. While the weekly competition is fierce in our league, it's all in good fun. Of course, we do still manage to sprinkle in conversations about football and tailgating food. You just can't tackle the "food lover" out of a group of food bloggers.

When Tracy of Sugarcrafter and Amber of Bluebonnets & Brownies came up with the idea of honoring Jen and her little one with a virtual baby shower, I started dreaming of different treats or appetizers I could bring.

Immediately, my mind wandered to my . However, I wanted to put a fall twist on it. One of my favorite fall salads is a classic lettuce mix with pears, nuts and Gorgonzola cheese. Of course, you see that salad in almost every restaurant, done in the same way each time.

In this version, the Parmesan and Gorgonzola cheeses are melted into a golden brown circles and gently pressed into muffin tins to form crispy cups. The rest? Just toss baby lettuces with chopped fresh pear, toasted hazelnuts and a simple vinaigrette of balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil. Gently place the salad inside the cooled cups for a pretty, original appetizer.

Congratulations, Jen! I can't wait to hear about the arrival of your little one.

The recipe:
In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese and flour.

Heat a small, nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Be sure the pan is fully heated before adding the cheese. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan mixture into a 4-inch circle in the middle of the skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Gorgonzola cheese over the Parmesan cheese.

Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Green Salad Recipe (3)

Cook until the circle starts to hold together as you lift it off of the pan and the bottom is starting to brown, about 1 to 1 ½ minutes.

Using an offset spatula, lift the circle of cheese from the pan and flip to the other side. Cook for an additional 15 to 30 seconds.

Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Green Salad Recipe (4)

Gently press the circle into a muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining cheese, to make a total of 8 cheese cups. Let the cheese cups cool completely in the muffin tin. When ready to use, carefully lift them out of the tin.

In a medium bowl, combine spring mix, toasted hazelnuts, pear, and a simple vinaigrette made of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Only use enough vinaigrette to lightly dress the salad.

Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Green Salad Recipe (5)

Place the cheese cups on a serving platter and gently fill with the salad. Serve immediately.

Printable Recipe

Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Green Salad Recipe (6)

Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Walnut Green Salad Recipe

These fun crispy cheese cups are the perfect way to show off a fresh fall salad of pears and hazelnuts.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizers, Salads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Healthy Appetizers

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 Salad Cups

Calories: 135kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine Parmesan cheese and flour.

  • Heat a small, nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Be sure the pan is fully heated before adding the cheese. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan mixture into a 4-inch circle in the middle of the skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Gorgonzola cheese over the Parmesan cheese.

  • Cook until the circle starts to hold together as you lift it off of the pan and the bottom is starting to brown, about 1 to 1½ minutes.

  • Using an offset spatula, lift the circle of cheese from the pan and flip to the other side. Cook for an additional 15 to 30 seconds.

  • Gently press the circle into a muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining cheese, to make a total of 8 cheese cups. Let the cheese cups cool completely in the muffin tin. When ready to use, carefully lift them out of the tin.

  • In a medium bowl, combine spring mix, toasted hazelnuts, pear, and a simple vinaigrette made of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Only use enough vinaigrette to lightly dress the salad.

  • Place the cheese cups on a serving platter and gently fill with the salad.

  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Filled Cups | Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 2.3mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Hazelnut Green Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with Gorgonzola? ›

What accompaniments should I serve with gorgonzola cheese? Blue cheese, particularly gorgonzola, pairs well with honey and sweet jams. Pears and tart green apples, like a Granny Smith, add brightness and a little palate cleanse in between bites. For crunch, try walnuts, pecans, or Marcona almonds.

What is the difference between blue cheese and Gorgonzola cheese? ›

A cheese simply labeled "blue" will typically be more intense-tasting, saltier and less creamy than Gorgonzola, but you can usually substitute one for the other in most recipes, and they both work beautifully on cheese boards.

What is the closest cheese to Gorgonzola? ›

Another blue mold cheese named after its place of origin is Roquefort, made from sheep's milk. Tangy, crumbly and with a unique marbling, this cheese closely resembles its Italian counterpart. Aromatic and pungent, Roquefort holds its own when used as a substitute for Gorgonzola.

How long can you keep Gorgonzola cheese? ›

An unopened gorgonzola container will keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 weeks. During this time, it will continue to mature, so don't let it go past that 4-week mark. Once open, you should use up all the gorgonzola within a week.

Is Gorgonzola cheese anti inflammatory? ›

A: Yes, Gorgonzola cheese may potentially reduce cholesterol levels and avoid artery inflammation. Studies have also demonstrated that people who eat cheese regularly have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those who do not consume it.

Is Gorgonzola blue cheese healthy? ›

Gorgonzola cheese also has notable amounts of essential vitamins and minerals including phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, selenium, folate, and vitamin A. Vitamin D and K play a role in the absorption of calcium and are important for bone and cardiovascular health.

What is the most unhealthy cheese? ›

Although extremely tasty on that cheese plate, soft cheeses such as Camembert, brie and triple-crème (cheese enriched with cream) fall into the “less healthy” category because of their saturated fat content.

What is another name for gorgonzola cheese? ›

It doesn't have other names. Gorgonzola is a specific type of blue cheese.

Does Gorgonzola have penicillin? ›

The main cheese-making Penicilliums — roqueforti (blue cheese), camemberti, (Camembert and Brie) and glaucum (Gorgonzola) — are not penicillin producers. They do produce other antibacterial metabolites — as well as human toxins and allergens — but no medically useful antibiotics.

What kind of milk is in gorgonzola cheese? ›

Gorgonzola (/ˌɡɔːrɡənˈzoʊlə/, Italian: [ɡorɡonˈdzɔːla]) is a veined protected designation of origin (PDO) Italian blue cheese, made from unskimmed cow's milk. It can be buttery or firm, crumbly and quite salty, with a "bite" from its blue veining.

Which is stronger blue cheese or Gorgonzola? ›

A cheese simply labeled "blue" will typically be more intense-tasting, saltier and less creamy than Gorgonzola, but you can usually substitute one for the other in most recipes, and they both work beautifully on cheese boards.

Can you freeze Gorgonzola cheese? ›

Though it doesn't freeze as well as harder cheeses, you can freeze Gorgonzola.

Does unopened Gorgonzola go bad? ›

Hard cheeses that haven't been opened can last for several months and even up to a year when stored in the fridge. Blue cheeses like Stilton, Roquefort and Gorgonzola can have a shelf life of several months when unopened if they're refrigerated properly.

Can you leave Gorgonzola cheese out overnight? ›

Leaving cheese out overnight may impact the quality of the product—but would not—in most cases—result in a food safety issue. In fact—All cheeses, besides fresh cheese—should be served at room temperature for optimum flavor.

Is it OK to eat cheese past its use by date? ›

Most packaged foods like cheese provide a best-by date. Although commonly confused with an expiration date, it instead indicates the date until which a food is of the best quality (4). This means that a food item — with the exception of infant formula — may still be safe to eat once this date passes.

What meat goes with Gorgonzola? ›

A Gorgonzola Dolcé has a milder, sweeter, less-blue flavor, so it should probably be served with a milder steak, like a Filet Mignon. A stronger, more traditional Gorgonzola should probably be served with a stronger flavored steak like a Skirt Steak or a Ribeye.

What pairs nicely with blue cheese? ›

Fruit:Fresh figs or pears, alternatively good quality dried dates and apricots or simply a slice of a crunchy sweet apple. Green acidic apples are better with younger cheese or hard cheeses where you are matching the acidity of youth with the sharpness of the greener fruit.

How is Gorgonzola best eaten? ›

It suits warming dishes, as gorgonzola was traditionally made with autumn milk, making it ready to eat in the cooler and pairing perfectly with ingredients found in the winter. Try it in risotto with wild mushrooms or with sweet juicy fruit like pears, apples, or persimmons.

What crackers go with Gorgonzola? ›

Gorgonzola + Multigrain Crisps With Berries

OK, blue cheeses can feel scary, but this is one combo even haters will love. Multigrain crisps infused with berries (like these Cranberry Oat Multigrain Crisps from Target) work to elevate the cracker and the cheese's best qualities.

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