Most of the time when I make recipes for this blog, I select recipes that sound good to me. I don’t generally go for the ones that are very dated and seem strange – but occasionally I’ve intrigued enough by an old recipe that just doesn’t sound like I’d like it, to give it a try. Today is one of those days. I came across a recipe for Pear and Pecan Salad that called for putting chopped pecans on top of canned pear halves (good so far), but then the recipe called for topping it with mayonnaise –and it lost me. But . . . The recipe sounded very easy to make, and I had all the ingredients in my kitchen, so I decided to proceed.
The verdict: I was pleasantly surprised by this recipe. The sweetness of the pears, the crunchiness of the nuts, and the creaminess of the mayonnaise worked well together to create a nice taste sensation.
Here’s the original recipe:
When I made this recipe I went with the main topping alternative – mayonnaise, and did not try the other options. I also thought that 3 heaping teaspoons (a heaping tablespoon!) of mayonnaise on top of each pear half seemed like a lot, so I reduced the amount to 2 teaspoons per pear half.
And, here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Pear and Pecan Salad
2 halves of canned pears
2 tablespoons pecans, finely chopped
4 teaspoons mayonnaise
lettuce
Arrange lettuce leaves on two salad plates. Place a pear half on top of the lettuce on each plate. Sprinkle with the chopped pecans, then top each pear half with about 2 teaspoons of mayonnaise.
Wow never thought of mayo.
Neither would I if I hadn’t seen the old recipe. 🙂
Just sometimes as on this occasion we are pleasantly surprised by food pairings just as you were, Sheryl 🙂
It’s fun when an unexpected food pairing works.
When I looked at the picture, I would have never guessed mayo was an ingredient. I remember pears with cottage cheese.
Years ago cottage cheese was another popular food to pair with canned fruits. An aside – I recently read somewhere that cottage cheese use is trending upward, and that it is becoming quite popular. What goes around comes around.
My grown children are eating it now. It always looked to lumpy for me to eat.
Never would have guessed mayo! I love this with blue cheese, but it is definitely worth trying the mayonnaise.
Blue cheese definitely sounds classier. 🙂
My mother-in-law would make this, but with a ball of cream cheese rolled in pecans instead of the mayo. We still serve it at holiday dinners.
Thanks for sharing how your family serves the pears and pecans. It sounds lovely to roll the cream cheese in the pecans.
I remember seeing salad like this even in the 1950s. I didn’t really care for canned pears as a child, but I might give them another chance!
Pears (both canned and fresh) have grown on me over the years.
I might find the same thing!
I’m interested that you found this was actually good to eat. Like you, I thought it sounded pretty awful. I might try it then!
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think. In my opinion it works, but I’d like a second opinion.
I’ve a strong suspicion I won’t get round to it. Sorry!
I can’t even count the number of times we had canned pears or peaches halves with things plopped on the top. The lettuce leaf was mandatory! It was usually mayo, or cottage cheese, and of course on the peach half, the obligatory cherry on top! The pecans sound like a good addition.
Your description so aptly describes some of my memories – when serving a salad put it on individual salad plate on the mandatory lettuce leaf; and any fruit salad is better with a cherry (maraschino, of course).
The way things were then. 😀
I think the 1920s had a love affair going on with Mayonnaise!
Agree 🙂
I think my mom served canned pears with mayonnaise. Although we always had pecans in the freezer, I don’t think she used them on pears. I should try this if I find a willing person to share it.
You should give this a try – especially since you have memories of your mother making a somewhat similar recipe.
Yes, I plan to have the pear salad when I don’t have appointments and another set of company.
Knock, knock, knocking on Anne’s door.
Oh! I laughed at that. What a good comment!
Mayo with pears – sound interesting. I thought when I first saw the photo that it was cream cheese or goat cheese. I just love pears anyway!
It’s interesting how different ingredients are popular during different time periods. Mayonnaise was very popular years ago, while cream cheese and goat cheese are much more popular today.