Endive Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
This easy Endive Salad recipe is filled with endives, apples, pears, pecans smothered in a delicious homemade blue cheese dressing. You just need a few simple ingredients to throw this easy salad together in no time.
I think you are going to love this salad because it gives you tons of flavor and the look of it leaves a lasting impression. Whether you are in the mood serving friends and family at a dinner party or you need to take a salad to your next big potluck, this is always a hit.
It makes an excellent starter to any meal, and it’s filling enough to be the meal itself. Perfect for a light lunch or vegetarian dinner option.
In addition to the fantastic flavor combinations of the fruit, nuts, and dressing, I can’t get enough of the texture. It’s crunchy enough to satisfy my cravings and healthy enough to enjoy it without all the guilt.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Thank you!
What is an Endive Salad?
If you are scratching your head wondering what exactly endive salad is, we are happy to help. It is a simple salad with endive, and fruits such as apples and pears. It typically has a blue cheese dressing but it can also be made with a vinaigrette.
Endive is a vegetable that is leafy and has an almost bitter taste. When paired with the sweetness of the fruits, you get an amazing combination. Endives also have lots of vitamin K as well as folate, vitamin C, and vitamin A. So, they taste great and are nutritious too.
What Ingredients Do I Need?
Salad:
- Endives
- Apple
- Pear
- Lemon juice
- Pecans
- Crumbled Blue Cheese
Blue Cheese Dressing:
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Mayonnaise
- Milk
- Garlic
- Dijon mustard
- Crumbled Blue cheese
- Salt & Pepper
Endive Salad Variations
This recipe is terrific just the way we have it written but sometimes we feel like changing it up and adding in some extra ingredients. Try some of these ideas when you are in the mood to try something different:
- Walnuts – Pecans are fantastic in the salad, but you can also use walnuts too. Either way, that crunchiness from the nuts is irresistible.
- Almonds – This mild nut is another great addition to a salad in place of, or alongside pecans.
- Arugula – Enhance the flavor of the endives by mixing in 2 cups of fresh arugula to your salad. It will also add some nice colors too.
- Gruyere Cheese – Everything tastes a little better with some cheese, right? Sprinkle some gruyere cheese on top of the salad right before serving.
- Cabbage – Red or green cabbage adds some extra flavor and nutrients to this healthy, endive salad. Try it for yourself to see!
- Bacon – Cook 2 or 3 pieces of bacon until it’s crispy. Then chop it or crumble it to add to the top of the endive salad. It adds a yummy saltiness that leaves you wanting more.
Love salads with fruits and nuts? Try our mandarin orange salad and strawberry spinach salad too!
How Long Does Endive Salad Last?
It is best when served right away. The longer it sits, the more likely the fruit will begin to brown up. Brown fruit isn’t dangerous to eat, but it’s not exactly appetizing when you see it.
If you want to have it as a quick and easy meal, you can prepare the blue cheese dressing ahead of time, and it will last up to 1 week in the fridge. You can also prepare the endives, and they will last around 4-5 days if kept in a sealed container in the fridge.
Then when you are ready to serve the salad, just chop the apples and pears and assemble the salad like you normally would.
Where Can I Buy Endives?
You can pick up endive at your local grocery store in the produce department. It’s typically kept with lettuce or radishes. Ask your produce department for help if you can’t seem to locate it.
You may also be able to buy endives at your local farmer’s market as well. Endives are becoming increasingly popular, so more people are starting to grow them so they can enjoy dishes like this endive salad.
Do I Need To Wash Endives Before Preparing Salad?
It’s always a good idea to at least rinse off fruits and vegetables before consuming them. Endive leaves aren’t exposed to the dirt and soil, so the odds are they don’t have a lot of bacteria or germs but they may still have pesticides on them that you’ll want to get off. Give them a quick rinse under the water and pat dry with a paper towel, and they are ready to eat.
You can actually eat endives raw or cooked depending on your preference and what you are planning to do with them.
Looking for More Easy Salad Recipes?
- Broccoli Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing
- Keto Antipasto Salad
- Easy Grape Salad
- Crunchy Asian Ramen Noodle Salad
- Easy Three Bean Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Mandarin Orange Salad with Citrus Dressing
- Spicy Southwest Salad
- Classic Waldorf Salad
- Italian Green Bean Salad
- Brussels Sprout Salad
- More Salad Recipes…
Like this recipe?
Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipes like this.
Endive Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
Ingredients
Salad:
- 8 medium Endives
- ½ Apple, finely diced
- ½ Pear, finely diced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup Pecans, finely chopped
- 1 ounce Blue Cheese
Blue Cheese Dressing
- 1/2 cup Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup Mayonnaise
- 1-2 tablespoon Milk
- 1 clove Garlic, finely minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 ounces Blue cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
Instructions
Salad:
- Trim the tough end off of the endive and then cut it into quarters lengthwise and arrange on your serving platter.
- In a small bowl toss the lemon juice and diced apples and pear together. This will keep the fruit from turning brown.
- Drizzle the blue cheese dressing over the endive and then top with the apple, pear, pecans, and crumbled blue cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Blue Cheese Dressing:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
Nutrition
