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Home » Salads » Pear Salad Recipe

Published: January 8, 2020 Last Modified: January 8, 2020 By Sara 18 Comments

Pear Salad Recipe

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Pear Salad Recipe #salad #pears #fall #winter #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This pear salad recipe is mixed greens with fresh sliced pears, pomegranate seeds, blue cheese and candied pecans, all tossed in a homemade balsamic dressing. A fresh and colorful salad option that pairs perfectly with chicken, fish and pork.

You can never go wrong with a flavorful salad to accompany any meal, some of my favorites include kale salad, arugula salad, and this sweet and savory pear salad.

Pear Salad Recipe #salad #pears #fall #winter #dinner #dinneratthezoo Pear Salad Recipe #salad #pears #fall #winter #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A bowl of pear salad with pomegranate, blue cheese and candied pecans.

When the colder weather months roll around, I stock up on fresh pears. They come in all different colors, shapes and textures, and are totally delicious! This pear salad is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this juicy fruit, and it’s got the perfect blend of flavors.

How do you make pear salad?

This salad starts with pears, which are thinly sliced and placed in a bowl of greens along with blue cheese, candied pecans and pomegranate seeds. Make a homemade balsamic dressing, and pour it over the salad, then toss to combine. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Lettuce with sliced pears, blue cheese and pecans on top.

Which pear is best for a salad?

You can use pretty much any type of pear you like in this salad. Some of my favorites include Anjou, Bosc, Bartlett and Comice varieties. The important thing is to choose pears that are ripe, but still firm. You can gently squeeze the pear, it should have a bit of give if it’s firm. Avoid soft pears, as they can get mushy in the salad.

Assorted whole pears.

Tips for the perfect salad

  • Use multiple colors of pears for a fancier presentation.
  • The balsamic dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it, then shake well and pour over the salad.
  • I like to buy a wedge of high quality blue cheese and crumble it myself. Pre-crumbled blue cheese often contains anti-caking agents and stabilizers, and doesn’t taste as fresh.
  • No pomegranate seeds on hand? Substitute dried cranberries or dried cherries instead.
  • This salad is best served immediately, as the cut pears will brown if they sit out too long. You can toss your pear slices in lemon juice to slow down the browning process.
  • You can buy candied pecans at the store, or make your own.
  • When I’m looking to save on prep time, I buy a container of pomegranate seeds at the grocery store instead of removing the seeds from a whole pomegranate.

Balsamic dressing poured over a bowl of mixed greens, sliced pears and pomegranate seeds.

Pear Salad variations

This salad is delicious as-is, but you can switch up the ingredients to feature other great flavors.

  • Nuts: Try almonds, walnuts or pine nuts instead of pecans.
  • Lettuce: You can use baby kale or spinach leaves instead of mixed greens.
  • Cheese: Feel free to use crumbled goat cheese, feta cheese or shaved Parmesan cheese instead of blue cheese.
  • Other Flavors: You can add other ingredients to the salad such as sliced apples, dried apricots, shaved fennel, or even bacon.
  • Protein: Make this salad a meal by adding sliced grilled chicken breast.

Tongs serving up a portion of pear salad.

While this salad is perfect for the fall, I find myself making it year round. The combination of flavors and textures just can’t be beat!

More salad recipes you’ll enjoy

  • Mexican Corn Salad
  • Tomato Salad
  • Avocado Salad
  • Green Bean Salad
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad

Pear Salad Video

A bowl of pear salad with pomegranate, blue cheese and candied pecans.
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5 from 25 votes

Pear Salad

This pear salad recipe is mixed greens with fresh sliced pears, pomegranate seeds, blue cheese and candied pecans, all tossed in a homemade balsamic dressing. A fresh and colorful salad option that pairs perfectly with chicken, fish and pork.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 16 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 320kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 6 cups mixed spring greens
  • 1 pound pears firm but ripe, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds can substitute dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbled
  • 1/2 cup candied pecans chopped

For the dressing

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place the mixed greens, pears, pomegranate seeds, blue cheese and pecans in a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth.
  • Drizzle the dressing over the pear mixture, gently toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 252mg | Potassium: 582mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 2mg
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Filed Under: Fall Recipes, Salads

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    Comments

    1. Jill says

      January 27, 2022 at 5:23 pm

      5 stars
      What a perfect blend of ingredients. I have been enjoying this salad for my lunches recently. Thanks for the terrific recipe!

      Reply
    2. Jamie says

      January 27, 2022 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      I love all the ingredients in this salad, especially the pear and candied pecans! It’s a perfect mix of sweet and savory!

      Reply
    3. Anjali says

      January 27, 2022 at 4:04 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious winter salad! And pears and blue cheese is one of my favorite combinations – yum!

      Reply
    4. Beth says

      January 27, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is fabulous! I love a healthy, gluten free, flavorful salad for lunch – this checks all the boxes!

      Reply
    5. Gwynn says

      January 27, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      Such a refreshing salad. The homemade dressing is delicious and the candied pecans are the crowning glory!

      Reply
    6. Brenda says

      December 18, 2021 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent salad and dressing!! I bought ready made pomegranate seeds, which was a mistake (they were bitter). I should have picked up fresh pomegranate. So, used raisins instead, which are really good in this salad as well. I will definitely will be making this again!

      Reply
    7. Molly says

      December 6, 2021 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      Delicious winter salad! Wonderful combination of savory & sweet flavors! Highly recommend!

      Reply
    8. Beatrice says

      February 2, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      Restaurant style salad that is really good! I’ve used apples when I didn’t have pears and it was still good!

      Reply
    9. Melissa says

      January 20, 2020 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy – bright and beautiful and packed with flavor! Great recipe

      Reply
    10. Chelsea says

      January 20, 2020 at 11:59 am

      5 stars
      This salad is an absolute favorite! Seriously sooo flavorful and delicious! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    11. Allyson Reed Zea says

      January 20, 2020 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      This salad was soooooo delicious! Thanks for the easy recipe!!!

      Reply
    12. Jacque Hooper says

      January 20, 2020 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      I always underestimate pears in my salad; this was delicious! Looking forward to serving this with dinner again this evening!

      Reply
    13. Tisha says

      January 17, 2020 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      So many great textures in this salad! Perfect for this time of year!

      Reply
    14. amanda says

      January 17, 2020 at 8:27 am

      5 stars
      What a gorgeous salad! I love the combincation of the pears and blue cheese.

      Reply
    15. Dorothy Reinhold says

      January 16, 2020 at 5:08 pm

      I love pears, but never think to add them to my salads! This salad will be served ASAP at my house.

      Reply
    16. Amanda says

      January 16, 2020 at 5:07 pm

      5 stars
      What an amazing healthy recipe. It looks so tasty!

      Reply
    17. Erin says

      January 16, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      5 stars
      This pear salad recipe looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!

      Reply
    18. Demeter says

      January 16, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      5 stars
      I love that pop of flavor that the pomegranate adds to this salad. Such a fresh side to add to dinner.

      Reply

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