5 from 6 votes
Arugula Pear Salad
🥗🍐🧀Tender arugula greens, juicy and sweet pears, shaved Parmesan cheese, red onions, and crunchy walnuts work so well together in this EASY yet elevated salad recipe! Dressed in a light but very flavorful honey Dijon mustard vinaigrette, this salad is the PERFECT side salad for weeknight dinners, for holiday entertaining, or for a light and healthy stand-alone lunch option!
Prep Time
10 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
320 kcal
Course:
Side Dish, Salad
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups arugula or your favorite greens, see FAQs for ideas, lightly packed leaves
- 2 pear cored and thinly sliced (peeled if desired; or use your favorite type of pear, Anjou variety
- ½ cup walnuts roughly chopped (lightly toasted if desired; or use your favorite type of nuts)
- ½ red onion thinly sliced (rinse under cold water to remove some of the bite, small
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese or more to taste, shaved
Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar champagne vinegar may be substituted
- 1 tablespoon honey or to taste
- 1 rounded teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste, freshly ground
- ¼ teaspoon thyme optional and to taste (dried oregano may be substituted, dried
Instructions
- Salad - To a large serving platter, scatter the arugula, and then top with all the remaining ingredients.
- Honey Dijon Vinaigrette - To a small jar with a lid, add all the ingredients, seal, and shake vigorously. Alternatively, add the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine. Taste the vinaigrette and make any necessary flavor adjustments. Flavor Tips - I generally add a bit more honey and more salt than called for above because if it tastes at all flat or boring, it likely will benefit from a bit more of each. Of course, season to your own taste preferences. Also, thyme has a distinct flavor, even in small quantities and to me "tastes like the holidays" so make sure that's the flavor note you're going for.
- Serve immediately. Storage - Salad is best when consumed right after assembly. Although extra vinaigrette will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5-7 days.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
1salad
Calories
320kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
23g
(8%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
9g
(53%)
Monounsaturated Fat
12g
(60%)
Cholesterol
4mg
(1%)
Sodium
704mg
(29%)
Potassium
283mg
(6%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
14g
(28%)
Vitamin A
555IU
(11%)
Vitamin C
8mg
(9%)
Calcium
137mg
(14%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 320
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1salad | |
| Calories | 320kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 9g | 53% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Cholesterol | 4mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 704mg | 29% |
| Potassium | 283mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 555IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 137mg | 14% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.