"This refreshing salad gets a burst of flavor from grilled cherries and roasted hazelnuts. Tangy blue cheese blended with a dressing made of pureed hazelnuts and honey."
for dressing:
¼ cup roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
¼ cup grapeseed oil
2 tablespoons honey
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste
pinch of ground black pepper, or to taste
for salad:
1 pint sweet cherries, pitted
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 cups mixed spring greens
¼ large red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup roasted hazelnuts, halved or roughly chopped
4 ounces Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue Cheese, crumbled
Preheat the grill to 400°F. Thread the cherries onto soaked wooden skewers or grilling skewers, about 4 or 5 to a skewer, and brush lightly with olive oil.
Place the dressing ingredients in a single-serve blender or small food processor. Process on high or pulse in long spurts until a creamy dressing forms, about 20 seconds. Set aside.
Grill the cherries for about 5 minutes, turning at least once, until the fruit begins to darken and soften.
Add the greens and onion to a large serving bowl. Pour in the dressing and toss to coat the salad. Slide the cherries off the skewers and arrange them evenly over the top of the greens. Sprinkle the salad with roasted hazelnuts and crumbled blue cheese before serving. Pairing suggestion: Brooks Willamette Valley Riesling.