If you love Steak Salad, you have to try this Arugula Skirt Steak Salad with Caramelized Pears, Pecans, and Gorgonzola Cheese! It’s fresh, flavorful, and sure to become a family favorite in your home!
Skirt Steak Salad
I’m currently trying to get us in the groove of eating more… salad. It’s actually a pretty big challenge, since we both need REAL meals for dinner, and love pasta/ bread/ and all things fatty/naughty/and carb loaded…
but I’m trying my best to stick to it!
When I saw we had some skirt steak hiding in the back of our freezer, I felt inspired to try a steak salad featuring some bold and wintery flavors. You know, to… shake it up a little!
Spicy arugula is the base of this bodacious salad situation, and caramelized pears, candied pecans, and BIG chunks of stinky gorgonzola are the colorful (and equally important) back up players.
And maaaaaaan, they can really make a girl (or guy) into salad advocates!
Salad success… it’s SWEET!
More Steak Recipes:
More Salad Recipes:
Arugula Skirt Steak Salad with Caramelized Pears, Pecans, and Gorgonzola
Ingredients
For the Arugula Skirt Steak Salad with Caramelized Pears, Pecans, and Gorgonzola:
- 1 lb. skirt steak, excess fat trimmed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, for seasoning (about 1 teaspoon per side of steak)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large pears, cored and cut into medium-sized chunks
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- 4 ounces crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- 4 cups baby arugula, washed and patted dry
For the Mustard Vinaigrette:
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Arugula Skirt Steak Salad with Caramelized Pears, Pecans, and Gorgonzola:
- Heat a large skillet over a  medium-high flame; add olive oil to skillet. When oil begins to simmer (you can test this by carefully placing a drop of water in the pan; if it sizzles ferociously, it's ready), place steak in skillet and let it cook for 5 minutes.
- Turn it and cook for another 4 minutes (5-6 if you want more medium than medium-rare). Transfer meat to a large cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Prepare the rest of your ingredients while it's resting.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium flame. Once melted add brown sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add pear chunks, stir, and then cook - stirring occasionally - for about 5 minutes, or just until the pears have released their juices and really softened up. With a slotted spoon (leaving behind as much sauce as possible) transfer pears to a clean plate.
- Add pecans to the same skillet the pears were cooked in (keeping the pear juices and caramel in the pan!), and toss them in the caramel, cooking over medium heat for just 1-2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and working quickly transfer pecans to a plate covered in wax or parchment paper.
- Once steak has rested for 10 minutes, slice meat against the grain into 1'' strips.
- Scatter arugula onto a large serving dish or platter. Arrange steak strips across the top, then add pears, pecans, and gorgonzola evenly around the platter. Lightly dress with vinaigrette, and serve at once.
For the Mustard Vinaigrette:
- Whisk all of the ingredients together. Season well with salt and pepper and adjust ingredients to taste.
Jennifer says
Oh. My. I am in love with everything about this salad! So guess what’s for dinner tonight…
plasterer bristol says
Looks really good that, i always do chicken salad, keep forgetting can do a steak/beef or other meats….Haha, thanks for sharing this.
Simon
Renee @CreativeMamaMessyHouse says
That looks amazing! Not sure I could convince my hubby to do the caramellized pears (he’s not super into fruit in his salad), but this could be a great “girl’s night” meal with my sister and mom.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
I could seriously have a salad every single day with these glorious toppings!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
I would totally eat more salad too, if they were all like this one! 🙂
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Yummy. Don’t think I’ve ever had a salad with steak on it. I don’t know what I’m waiting for. 🙂
Joanne says
I could see this convincing the.boy to jump on the salad-as-a-meal bandwagon! I’m super excited about your mixins. I feel like caramelized pears and pecans could get me excited about anything, though.
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
Oh man! This salad looks amazing.