Citrus Pear Greens Salad (Printable)

A bright salad combining pears, mixed greens, citrus, cheese, and nuts for fresh flavors.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Greens

01 - 4 cups mixed baby greens (arugula, spinach, watercress)

→ Fruit

02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced
03 - 1 large orange, segmented
04 - 1 small grapefruit, segmented

→ Toppings

05 - 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta (optional)
06 - 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
12 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
02 - Place mixed baby greens in a large salad bowl.
03 - Incorporate sliced pears, orange segments, and grapefruit segments into the greens.
04 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled goat cheese (or feta) and toasted chopped walnuts or pecans on top.
06 - Serve immediately to preserve freshness and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes to set the table, no cooking required.
  • The combination of sweet pear and tart citrus wakes up your palate without feeling heavy.
  • It looks impressive enough for company but requires almost no skill to pull off.
02 -
  • Dress the salad right before serving, any earlier and the greens will wilt into a soggy mess.
  • If your citrus segments have thick membranes, take the extra minute to trim them off or they'll be chewy and distracting.
  • Don't skip toasting the nuts, raw nuts taste flat and forgettable next to the caramelized flavor of toasted ones.
03 -
  • Segment citrus over the dressing bowl so the juice falls right in and intensifies the flavor without extra effort.
  • Slice pears at the last possible moment, they brown quickly and look tired if you prep them too early.
  • Use a large bowl even if it seems excessive, cramped greens don't toss well and you'll end up with uneven dressing distribution.

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