Sweet & Smokey Pear Salad

Submitted by i_m_patty

"A unique blend of sweet, smokey, crunchy, and caramel make this summer salad a refreshing (and lo-cal) change from the typical lettuce salad. Don't forego the maple flavoring - it's the "sweet" in the "Sweet & Smokey". This is an original recipe inspired by a Pear & Gorgonzola salad I tasted, but I didn't like the Gorgonzola flavor so I mixed it up a bit and added some crunch."

 

• Ready In: 20mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• Dressing

• 1⁄4 cup canola oil
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1⁄8 teaspoon maple flavoring
• 2 (1 g) packets Splenda sugar substitute
• 2 teaspoons almond milk

• Salad

• 1 pear, peeled and sliced thin
• 1⁄4 cup unsalted almonds, chopped
• 2 green onions, sliced thin
• 1⁄2 cup smoked gouda cheese, shredded
• 1 small head lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces

directions

1. In a jar or covered container, mix canola oil, cider vinegar, maple flavoring, Splenda, and almond milk.
2. Shake until mixed well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. In large bowl, toss lettuce, pears, green onions, almonds, and cheese.
4. Just before serving add dressing and toss well.
5. As an alternative to tossing the salad, serve individual bowls of lettuce topped with a circle of pear slices, and the cheese, green onions, and almonds sprinkled in the center.