This is a perfectly elegant salad: crisp pears and endive make a lovely foil for the creamy, calcium-rich dressing, while chopped walnuts add beneficial Omega-3 oils.

Smooth, creamy Stilton dressing imparts wonderful flavor to this salad, but if you can’t find Stilton, Roquefort or Gorgonzola make very tasty substitutes.

INGREDIENTS

Dressing

3 ounces Stilton cheese
1 teaspoon honey
1 garlic clove
3 tablespoons whole, low-fat, or nonfat sour cream
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, white wine vinegar, or champagne vinegar
1/4 cup half-and-half
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste

Salad

2 Belgian endive heads, halved lengthwise, cut into 1-inch crosswise slices
1 bunch watercress, stems trimmed
1 large ripe pear, sliced thin
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pecans, lightly toasted
Thin slices of red onion (optional)

1. In a blender or food processor, combine two-thirds of the Stilton, and all of the honey, the garlic, the sour cream, and the vinegar. Blend until the mixture is smooth. With the machine running, add the half and half. Transfer the dressing to a bowl, and add the salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate the dressing until you are ready to use it.

2. When you are ready to serve the salad, put the half rings of endive into the bowl, add the watercress, and toss. Place a large handful of the greens onto each of the four salad plates.

3. Lay the pear slices over the salad, and drizzle about 3 tablespoons dressing over each plate. Crumble the remaining Stilton, and garnish the salad with the cheese, the walnuts or pecans, and, if you like, the red onion. Serve immediately.

Serves 4, with dressing left over.