Savory Pear Greens (Printable)
Sweet pears and peppery greens with toasted nuts, tangy vinaigrette create perfect balance in this quick, vibrant salad.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Produce
01 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, baby spinach, or mesclun)
02 - 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced
03 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
→ Cheese & Nuts
05 - 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta
06 - 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or pecans
→ Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon honey
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts or pecans and toast for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, thinly sliced pears, red onion, and chopped parsley. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad mixture. Toss gently with salad servers or hands to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the greens.
05 - Sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese and cooled toasted nuts over the dressed salad. Serve immediately to maintain crisp texture and fresh flavor.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet pears and peppery greens create that perfect yin yang balance that makes salads actually exciting to eat
- You can throw this together in under 20 minutes but it looks like something from a restaurant menu
02 -
- Dress the salad right before serving or the greens will wilt and lose their crunch
- The pears will oxidize slightly, so toss them in a tiny bit of lemon juice if making ahead
03 -
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave the pears into thin ribbons for an elegant presentation
- Toast extra nuts and store them in an airtight container for future salads