Pear and goat's cheese salad recipe

Dinner for one doesn't have to be dull! This decadent pear and goat's cheese salad makes a mouthwatering lunch or dinner option when you're dining solo. With creamy cheese, nuts and veg, and a zingy cranberry and balsamic drizzle, you can create a restaurant standard meal in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 ripe pear
• 90g round of goat’s cheese
• A little olive oil
• Leaves from a few small thyme sprigs, optional
• Small handful of walnuts or pecans
• About half a bag of rocket and chard salad, or whichever salad leaves you like
• Wholemeal baguette

For the dressing:

• 1tbsp cranberry sauce or redcurrant jelly
• 1tbsp red or white wine vinegar, or balsamic vinegar
• 1tbsp good olive oil

Method

1. Heat the grill to medium. Cut the pear lengthways into 4 slices and put on a baking tray (lined with baking parchment if you have some). Cut the cheese across into 3 slices. Brush the pear and cheese with oil, sprinkle thyme leaves and seasoning on the cheese and grill for about 4 mins.
2. To make the dressing, mix all the ingredients together. Add the nuts to the tray and grill for 1-2 mins, watching them to ensure that they don't burn.
3. Put salad leaves on a plate, add the pear slices, then slide the melting goat’s cheese on top. Drizzle with dressing. Eat with a baguette.