Pear Salad Recipe (10 Minutes!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

This pear salad recipe combines all the juicy sweetness of fruit with a medley of flavors from crisp greens and crumbly, tart feta cheese. Salad with pears comes together just as fast as other fruity, healthy salads like grilled peach salad or strawberry spinach salad, but with a sweet white wine vinaigrette. And, it’s so easy to customize!

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for arugula pear salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Salad:

• Arugula – This dark leafy green has a velvety texture and mild, peppery flavor that goes well with the other ingredients. If you can’t find arugula, you can use a bag of mixed greens, kale, or any lettuces you like instead.
• Anjou Pears – I prefer green pears for their firm flesh and green color, but red Anjou pears work as well. If you use a softer pear, use Bartlett pears and slice them slightly thicker to avoid smashing them.
• Feta – Crumble it fresh, or get a pre-crumbled variety. If you prefer a different cheese, you can easily make a pear and gorgonzola cheese salad, pear blue cheese salad, or pear goat cheese salad instead.
• Walnuts – I use raw, unsalted walnuts for an earthy crunch. Pecans would make another delicious substitute.

Dressing:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – I recommend a high-quality oil as the flavor shines through in the dressing. You can also use a more neutral oil, such as avocado oil.
• White Wine Vinegar – Adds bright flavor and helps the dressing emulsify. You can also use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or lemon juice instead.
• Maple Syrup – Adds a deep, sweet flavor to pear salad recipes. For zero sugar and the same great maple flavor, I use this sugar-free maple syrup.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For easy seasoning.

How To Make Pear Salad

This section shows how to make salad with pears with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

1. Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Set aside.
2. Prep the pears. Slice them thinly.

3. Combine. On a large platter or using individual plates, arrange the arugula with the pears, feta, and walnuts. Add the dressing to the salad and toss.

Recipe Variations

This simple pear salad works perfectly as-is, but there are lots of ways to customize it!

• Use Candied Nuts – You can make them on a baking sheet in the oven, caramelize them in a skillet on medium heat, or try a recipe like my sugar-free candied pecans in the slow cooker. Use instead of raw nuts.
• Add Veggies – Include thin slices of radishes, diced red onion, shredded brussels sprouts, or shredded carrots.
• Swap Fruits – If pears are unavailable, substitute sliced apples or grapes sliced in half lengthwise.
• Trade The Dressing – Use a creamy balsamic vinaigrette or homemade Italian dressing in this salad with pear recipe. Or, try a sweeter dressing like my sugar free salad dressing as a low carb option. You could also keep the same dressing and add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard for deeper flavor.
• Toppings – Add a punch of flavor with sugar-free dried cranberries, pomegranate seeds (sometimes called pomegranate arils), sliced hard boiled eggs, or crumbled bacon in the oven.

Storage Instructions

This pear salad tastes best fresh, but if you need to store it, keep it in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the dressing separately, in the fridge as well. Add the dressing right before serving.

What To Serve With Pear Salad

This arugula pear salad is a quick and easy addition to so many recipes!

• Chicken – Juicy baked chicken legs, simple balsamic chicken thighs, or air fryer chicken breast would pair nicely with pear salad recipes. You can serve them on the side, or slice the chicken and add directly to the salad for a full meal.
• Beef – Try this salad with beef short ribs, juicy sirloin steak, or even a roasted beef tenderloin for special occasions. For a quick and easy summer dish, serve it with a juicy grilled burger.
• Seafood – Enjoy a baked sea bass recipe, buttery crab stuffed salmon, bright and flavorful jerk salmon, or broiled lobster tails with this dish.
• Soups – Roasted cauliflower soup, ground turkey soup, or cream of asparagus soup pair well with this salad for lunch.

More Fruity Salad Recipes

Fruit adds a burst of flavor to hearty greens! If you like this recipe for pear salad, you’ll enjoy these other salads with fruit:

Recipe Card

5 from 3 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Pear Salad Recipe (10 Minutes!)

This easy pear salad recipe combines fresh pears, walnuts, feta, and arugula in a sweet maple vinaigrette. Make it in just 10 minutes!

Prep: 10 minutes

Total: 10 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 6 (adjust to scale recipe)

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See Also

Black Bean Taco Salad Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet

US Customary – Metric

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Ingredients:

• 6cupsArugula(or other greens of your choice)▢
• 2mediumAnjou pears(thinly sliced)▢
• 3/4 cupFeta cheese(crumbled; or gorgonzola or blue cheese)▢
• 1/2 cupWalnuts▢

Dressing:

• 2tbspExtra virgin olive oil▢
• 1tbspWhite wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar or lemon juice)▢
• 1tbspMaple syrup(I used sugar-free maple syrup, but any kind will work)▢
• 3/4tspSea salt▢
• 1/4tspBlack pepper▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. In a small bowl, use a whisk to mix the dressing ingredients. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl or on a serving platter, toss the arugula with the pears, cheese, and walnuts.

3. Drizzle the salad with the dressing.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups

• Nutrition info used regular maple syrup, but sugar, carbs, and calories would be lower if using sugar-free maple syrup.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories202

Fat15.1g

Protein4.9g

Total Carbs14.1g

Net Carbs11.2g

Fiber2.9g

Sugar8.5g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Side Dish

Cuisine:American

Keywords:pear salad, pear salad recipe, salad with pears

Calories: 202 kcal

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Pear Salad Recipe

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