Description
Delightful “Pear Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette” brings Mediterranean elegance to your plate with crisp greens and sweet fruit. Refreshing ingredients dance together, creating a harmonious blend that will satisfy and surprise you.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Salad Ingredients:
- 3 pears (any variety, thinly sliced)
- 5 ounces (141 grams) arugula
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Dairy and Cheese:
- 4 to 5 ounces (113 to 142 grams) goat cheese (crumbled)
Vinaigrette and Seasonings:
- 1/3 cup (79 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 small red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove (grated or minced)
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) pecans (toasted and cooled)
Instructions
- Submerge thinly sliced onions in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow their pungent bite, then thoroughly drain and blot dry with a paper towel.
- Create the vinaigrette by combining ingredients in a sealed mason jar, shaking vigorously until the mixture emulsifies and becomes smooth, about 15-20 seconds.
- Spread a vibrant layer of fresh arugula across a wide, shallow serving platter, creating an inviting green foundation.
- Artfully arrange delicate pear slices and prepared onions atop the arugula, creating visual texture and depth.
- Generously scatter crumbled goat cheese, ruby-hued dried cranberries, and golden toasted pecans across the salad surface.
- Just before serving, re-shake the vinaigrette to ensure proper consistency, then gracefully drizzle over the salad, allowing the dressing to naturally cascade between ingredients for an elegant presentation without disturbing the carefully constructed layers.
Notes
- Softening onions in ice water removes their sharp bite, creating a milder, more pleasant flavor profile for the salad.
- Using a mason jar for vinaigrette makes mixing and storing dressing super easy, with minimal cleanup required.
- Let the salad sit for a few minutes after drizzling dressing to allow flavors to meld and develop a richer taste experience.
- For a vegan version, swap goat cheese with plant-based alternatives like almond cheese or nutritional yeast crumbles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 453 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 225 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg