Pear and Walnut Salad

A pear salad recipe featuring mixed greens, red pears, goat cheese and candied walnuts. Served with an easy, homemade apricot-balsamic vinaigrette.

The salad is simple, consisting of few ingredients, yet boasting big flavor. For the bed of the salad, mesclun (or spring greens) was just right. This provided a lovely touch of color and also a mild enough salad base to let the pear shine through.

Many pear salads call for blue cheese, but I’ve found while blue cheese and pears are a classic pairing, goat cheese is less overpowering and doesn’t completely mask the flavor of the pear.

Honey coated walnuts add another note of sweetness to the salad, gave it the perfect added crunch and worked beautifully alongside both the pear and the goat cheese.

Lastly, the dressing — quite possibly one of my favorite parts. The dressing is savory-sweet, consisting of store-bought apricot jam, tangy balsamic vinegar, freshly grated nutmeg and a pinch of ginger. It is simply put, heavenly.

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5 from 1 vote

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Pear Salad with Goat Cheese with Apricot-Balsamic Vinaigrette and Honey Walnuts

Prep Time

20 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

A pear salad featuring goat cheese, honey walnuts and an apricot-balsamic vinaigrette.

Course: Salad, Salad Dressing

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4

Calories: 603 kcal

Author: Kelly Anthony

Ingredients

Apricot-Balsamic Vinaigrette

• 3 tablespoons apricot jam
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Pinch Kosher salt
• Pinch ground ginger
• 1/2 cup canola oil

Pear Salad with Goat Cheese and Honey Walnuts

• 6 cups mesclun or mixed baby greens
• 3 small red pears, sliced (ripe, yet slightly firm)
• 1 cup honey walnuts, chopped (store-bought or see recipe link above)
• 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese

Instructions

For the Apricot-Balsamic Vinaigrette

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine jam, vinegar, honey, nutmeg, salt, and ginger, and whisk to combine. 

2. Slowly drizzle in the canola oil, whisking all the while. Set aside until ready to use. 

For the Pear Salad with Goat Cheese and Honey Walnuts

1. Combine lettuce, sliced pears, 2/3's of the walnuts and 2/3's of the goat cheese in a large serving bowl and toss to combine.

2. Sprinkle with remaining walnuts and goat cheese, serve and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Recipe makes about a 1/3 cup of dressing.

Nutrition Facts

Pear Salad with Goat Cheese with Apricot-Balsamic Vinaigrette and Honey Walnuts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 603 Calories from Fat 396

% Daily Value*

Fat 44g68%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 13mg4%

Sodium 254mg11%

Potassium 252mg7%

Carbohydrates 45g15%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 31g34%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 1035IU21%

Vitamin C 20mg24%

Calcium 77mg8%

Iron 1.8mg10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.