Description
This Autumn Pear Salad is a delightful fall recipe featuring tender spring greens, sweet juicy pears, crunchy candied walnuts, salty parmesan cheese, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a perfect balance of flavors and textures that can be served as a refreshing starter or a light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 Tbsp finely diced shallot
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (about 1/4 + 1/8 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper)
Salad
- 7 oz Spring Salad & Spinach blend
- 2 Pears, sliced thin (Bartlett or Anjou are great)
- 2 oz parmesan cheese, shaved
- 1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries
Candied Walnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 Tbsp salted butter
- 1 Tbsp packed light-brown sugar
Instructions
- Make the dressing: To a blender, add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, diced shallot, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Blend the mixture until well emulsified, about 20 seconds. Store the dressing in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to use.
- Candy the walnuts: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter along with the brown sugar. Once the mixture is melted, add the chopped walnuts and cook, stirring constantly until caramelized, about 2 minutes. Transfer the candied walnuts to a plate in a single layer to cool.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, layer the spring salad & spinach blend and thinly sliced pears. Toss gently with the prepared dressing. Top the salad with shaved parmesan cheese, dried cranberries, and the cooled candied walnuts. Serve immediately to prevent the greens from wilting.
Notes
- This flavorful Pear Salad easily becomes a favorite fall recipe with its combination of tender greens, sweet pears, crunchy candied walnuts, salty parmesan, and tangy vinaigrette.
- For best texture, add the dressing just before serving to keep the lettuce crisp.
- Choose Bartlett or Anjou pears for the best flavor and texture in this salad.
- You can prepare the dressing and candied walnuts ahead of time for a quicker assembly when ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 228 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
