Arugula Pear Salad
Arugula pear salad is the perfect blend of sweet and savory, combining pears, walnuts, cheese, quinoa, and a maple vinaigrette. Serve this crunchy, creamy dish as a light fall lunch or a tasty addition to your holiday table.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Quinoa, cooked
- 4 cups Arugula
- 2 Pears, (sliced thinly)
- 1/2 cup Gorgonzola Cheese
- 1/2 cup Pecans or Walnuts
- 1/4 Red Onion, (sliced thinly)
Maple Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
Instructions
- Cook quinoa according to package instructions.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients.
- Place the salad ingredients into a serving bowl and top with the maple vinaigrette.
Notes
- Use ripe pears. This is how you get maximum sweetness and juiciness. You can tell a pear is ripe by gently pressing near the stem; it should give slightly without being too soft.
- Toast the nuts. Toasting pecans or walnuts enhances their flavor and adds a satisfying crunch to the salad.
- Slice ingredients thinly. Thinly sliced pears, red onions, and cheese ensure an even distribution of flavors in every bite.
- Dress the salad just before serving. To keep my arugula crisp and fresh, I add the maple vinaigrette just before serving.
- Store dressing separately. If prepping ahead, store the salad dressing separately in an airtight container to maintain freshness and flavor.
- Fruits: If you're not a fan of pears, or just want to add some other fruits to the mix, try apples, pomegranates, or cranberries. Each adds its own sweet and tart twist.
- Salad: Substitute arugula with any leafy greens like mustard greens, spinach, or kale.
- Cheese: Use feta or goat cheese, for another creamy, tangy element. If you want a different flavor, try parmesan.
- Salad Dressing: for a creamier salad dressing, try my creamy balsamic salad dressing or simply add a dash of balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top of your salad.
- Candied Nuts: I use raw nuts but if you want more sweetness, try candied pecans or walnuts instead.
Nutrition
Calories: 406kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 319mg, Potassium: 485mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 694IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 173mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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