Sweet and juicy pear salad is filled with the flavors of fall. It is tangy, crunchy, and lightly dressed for a tasty dinner or side!
While this Pear salad is hearty and delicious all on it’s own, it would be great with some chunks of chicken or ham. Add a fresh-baked roll and you are in for a treat.
Simply Sweet Fall Salad
My favorite kinds of salads are those with pops of sweet juicy fruit in them. The best fruit? Any kind that is in season! Seasonal fruit is always at it’s sweetest and best.
Fall brings sweet pears. Our whole family just LOVES pears. We love to take the kids apple and pear picking. There is something so lovely about being outdoors and gathering your own sweet produce.
We jar them, put them in dessert crisps, and top our salads with these juicy bits. This tasty Pear Salad highlights this yummy fruit and adds creamy bits of avocado and sweet crunchy pecans. It is perfection.
Making Pear Salad
PECANS. In a skillet over medium heat, combine ¼ cup sugar together with the pecans. Continue stirring gently until the sugar has melted and caramelized the pecans. Allow pecans to cool by transferring them on to waxed paper. Once they are cool chop into pieces.
DRESSING. Make dressing by blending oil, vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoons sugar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper together.
ASSEMBLE. In a large bowl, layer lettuce mix, pears, bleu cheese, avocado, and green onions. Pour dressing over salad and sprinkle pecans on top.
Ingredient tips
- Greens: Best green suggestions include, baby kale, spinach, or mixed greens are all great options!
- Pears: Any type of pear will work for this recipe. Just make sure to use pears that are ripe, yet still firm. You may have to buy pears a few days ahead of time so that they have time to ripen just right. Be gentle with the pears during slicing and mixing because ripe pears tend to bruise easily and quickly.
- Protein: To make this salad more filling I would recommend adding in sliced grilled chicken breast!
Tips for Serving and Storing
Nuts: If making your own candied nuts you can make those ahead of time and keep them stored at room temperature in an airtight container. You should avoid slicing the pears ahead of time because they will brown quickly.
Dressing: Make your dressing ahead of time and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. Only dress individual servings of the salad to keep the rest of the salad fresh for longer.
STORE salad, undressed, in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
For more delicious salad, check out:
- Cobb Salad
- Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Chicken Gyro Salad
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Beet Salad
Pear Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bag spring greens
- 1/2 head romaine lettuce - torn into bite sized pieces
- 3 pears - cored and sliced thin (like inspo)
- 5 oz blue cheese - crumbled
- 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, diced
- 1/2 c green onions - thinly sliced
- 1/4 c white sugar
- 1/2 c pecans
- 1/3 c olive oil
Dressing
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic - chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- fresh ground pepper and salt - to taste
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, combine ¼ cup sugar together with the pecans. Continue stirring gently until the sugar has melted and caramelized the pecans. Allow pecans to cool by transferring them on to waxed paper. Once they are cool chop into pieces.
- Make dressing by blending oil, vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoons sugar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper together.
- In a large bowl, layer lettuce mix, pears, bleu cheese, avocado, and green onions. Pour dressing over salad and sprinkle pecans on top.
So many yummy flavors and textures. We love this salad.
Thank you for trying it. I’m happy you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious!
I’m so glad you loved it!