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    Home » Salads

    Pear Salad

    Published: Oct 17, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    This pear salad is fruity, fresh, crunchy, and delicious; excellent as an appetizer or side salad for a special dinner or holiday meal.

    Make it with ripe pears, mixed green leaves, crunchy almonds, juicy oranges, creamy ricotta, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

    pear salad with ricotta and fresh pear
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storage
    • Questions
    • More fall and winter salads
    • More recipes with fruit
    • Recipe

    Check out our Best Salad Recipes

    Pear salad is an easy and simple dish you and your guests will love.

    Tender sweet ripe pears that melt in your mouth meet slightly bitter salad greens, juicy oranges, crunchy almonds, creamy ricotta (which you can replace with a spicy pecorino), sour cranberries, and a quick and easy balsamic vinegarette to tie all flavors together.

    It's a dance of sweet and sour, soft and crunchy, fresh and creamy. It's a favorite winter salad; we hope you'll love it as much as we do.

    pear salad with balsamic dressing

    Ingredients

    fresh pear, oranges and mixed greens

    Pears

    You can use most pear varieties as long as you pick perfectly ripe pears.

    To pick perfectly ripe pears, apply gentle pressure with your thumb to the top part of the pear (the stem or the neck). They are ripe when they yield to pressure.

    If you have unripe pears at home, place them in a fruit bowl at room temperature near other fruit like bananas and let them ripen for a few days.

    Our favorite variety for pear salad is Bartlett pear (also known as Williams pears) because they are incredibly juicy when ripe.

    Other excellent varieties are Anjou pears and red Anjou, Bosc pears, Comice pears, Concorde pears, and Forelle pears.

    Orange

    Like pears, it's best if you can find ripe oranges. They are sweeter and less tart.

    Mixed greens

    You can use a pre-washed mixed greens bag you can find in most supermarkets. Ensure it contains some slightly bitter greens like arugula or radicchio to have a perfect flavor match with pears.

    An excellent mixed green leaf bag would have three or more of lettuce, baby lettuces, Romaine lettuce, endive, mustards, baby spinach, watercress, arugula, radicchio, kale, and other tender salad greens.

    Ricotta cheese

    Ricotta is a perfect match to pears with its creamy texture and milky flavor. For a sharper, chewier texture, you can substitute pecorino cheese (like pecorino Romano or pecorino Sardo) for ricotta.

    Goat cheese, gorgonzola cheese, blue cheese, parmesan cheese, and feta cheese are also excellent alternatives for this pear salad recipe.

    To keep the salad dairy-free, you can opt for homemade soy ricotta or a store-bought cashew-based or almond-based cheese.

    Almonds

    Toasted almonds or other toasted nuts, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, and pecans, add a great crunch and nutty taste to the salad. Chop them up before adding them in.

    Dried cranberries

    Dried fruit like dried cranberries, apricots, figs, plums, and raisins are an excellent chewy and sweet addition to this salad. Pick your favorite, and chop them up before adding them in.

    Vinaigrette

    Keep this pear salad dressing simple because the fruit is plenty juicy and helps make the salad super flavorful. You don't want too many flavors melding with fresh pears and oranges.

    We recommend a fruity good quality extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper.

    To make a creamier and richer dressing, you can add maple syrup (or honey) and Dijon mustard (or American mustard).

    Instructions

    Rinse the mixed green leaves if necessary, shake most of the water off, and add them to a large bowl.

    mixed leaves

    Cut the pears in half, core them, then cut them into slices. Add the pear slices to the bowl.

    Peel the orange, remove as much white flesh as possible, separate the wedges, and cut them in half. Add them to the bowl.

    Add in the cranberries and chopped almonds.

    slices of pear and orange wedges

    Whisk the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then pour the vinaigrette into the salad and toss.

    Add small dollops of ricotta on top and serve.

    pear salad with balsamic dressing

    Serving suggestions

    This pear salad is lovely as a side dish, an appetizer for weeknight dinners, or special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    Serve it as a starter with a side of bread, such as:

    • No-knead focaccia with rosemary.
    • Easy 10-minute crostini with a brush of oil and garlic.
    • Italian bruschetta with eggplant or olive tapenade.

    Or serve it as a vibrant side dish with a main of your choice, for example:

    • Eggplant Parmigiana with tender slices of eggplant and real Italian flavor.
    • Easy pasta bake: an easy and comforting recipe with pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese.
    • Mushroom pasta with chewy sautéed mushrooms and fresh herbs.
    • Tasty marinated tofu with a charred and jerky-like texture, a tasty plant-based dinner idea!
    • eggplant parmigiana
      Eggplant Parmigiana
    • Baked ziti pasta and fresh basil
      Baked Ziti
    • vegan mushroom pasta
      Vegan Mushroom Pasta
    • marinated tofu on rice
      Marinated Tofu

    Storage

    Refrigerator: store leftover pear salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

    Freezer: this dish is not suitable for freezing.

    Questions

    Are pear skins edible?

    Like apples, pears skins are edible and contain plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Make sure to rinse the pears with water before eating their skin.

    What does pear go well with?

    In a salad, pear goes well with:

    - Fruit: apples, oranges, dried cranberries, dates, figs (fresh and dried), strawberries, and pomegranate arils.
    - Nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios.
    - Salad greens: arugula, watercress, endive, fennel, lettuces, spinach, radicchio, and other tender and bitter greens.
    - Cheese: ricotta, blue cheese, gorgonzola, pecorino, goat cheese, feta, roquefort, parmesan, Brie, and Gruyère.
    - Condiments: extra virgin olive oil, honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, lemon juice, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar.

    How do you slice a pear for a salad?

    Rinse the pear, pat it dry, cut it in half, and core it (remove seeds) with a teaspoon. There is no need to peel the pear.

    Slice the pear in wedges; you can do so by the long or short sides.

    More fall and winter salads

    If you're looking for side salads or appetizer ideas for autumn or the holiday season, take a look at these vibrant and wholesome salad ideas:

    • Red cabbage salad with orange wedges, white beans, and mustard dressing
    • Fennel salad with pomegranate seeds and juicy orange slices
    • Shaved Brussels sprout salad with dried cranberries and a sweet and tangy dressing
    • Green bean salad with cherry tomatoes and crumbled feta
    • Easy carrot salad with walnuts, grated carrots, and apple
    • Black bean salad with roasted sweet potato, corn, and Mexican flavors
    • Cauliflower salad with roasted cauliflower, tahini dressing, and chickpeas
    • Lentil sweet potato salad with creamy cumin dressing, it's a perfect Thanksgiving dish!
    • red cabbage salad with orange
      Red cabbage salad
    • Fennel salad in a bowl
      Fennel and Orange Salad
    • shaved brussels sprouts salad
      Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
    • cauliflower salad
      Cauliflower Salad
    • black bean salad
      Black Bean Salad
    • Carrot raisin salad
      Carrot Raisin Salad
    • green bean salad
      Green Bean Salad
    • lentils and sweet potato salad
      Lentil Sweet Potato Salad

    For many more salad ideas, check out our salads category page.

    More recipes with fruit

    When autumn and winter are upon us, we love using pears and seasonal fruits in baked goods and savory dishes. Try some of our favorite fruit recipes here:

    • Easy pear cake with just 8 ingredients and an easy preparation method
    • Baked pears with cinnamon syrup, a super easy weekday treat!
    • Favorite apple cake with 5 minutes prep time and 7 ingredients only
    • Blueberry cake with lemon: a light and airy autumn cake
    • pear cake with pear slices of top
      Pear Cake
    • baked pears
      Baked Pears
    • vegan apple cake
      Vegan Apple Cake
    • easy blueberry cake with fresh berries
      Lemon Blueberry Cake

    Recipe

    pear salad with pear, orange and ricotta cheese

    Pear Salad

    Author: Nico
    This pear salad is fruity, fresh, and delicious; excellent as an appetizer and side salad for a special dinner or holiday meal.
    Make it with ripe pears, mixed green leaves, crunchy almonds, juicy oranges, creamy ricotta, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Appetizer, Side dish
    Cuisine International
    Servings 4 - 6 people
    Calories 252 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound pears Bartlett, William, Anjou, or other
    • 1 large orange
    • 4 ounces mixed salad greens
    • ½ cup ricotta
    • ⅓ cup almonds
    • ¼ cup cranberries
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 twists black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse the mixed greens if necessary, shake most of the water off, and add them to a large bowl.
      mixed leaves
    • Cut the pears in half, core them, then cut them into slices. Add the pear slices to the bowl.
      Peel the orange, remove as much white flesh as possible, separate the wedges, and cut them in half. Add them to the bowl.
      Add in the cranberries and chopped almonds.
      slices of pear and orange wedges
    • Whisk the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then pour the vinaigrette into the salad and toss.
      Add small dollops of ricotta on top and serve.
      pear salad with ricotta cheese

    Video Recipe

    Pear Salad is a Quick and Fresh Side Dish

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 portion of pear salad out of 4 portions.
    WHAT DOES PEAR GO WELL WITH IN A SALAD?
    Add/remove/customize ingredients in this pear salad following this list:
     
    • Fruit: apples, oranges, dried cranberries, dates, figs (fresh and dried), strawberries, and pomegranate arils.
    • Nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios.
    • Salad greens: arugula, watercress, endive, fennel, lettuces, spinach, radicchio, and other tender and bitter greens.
    • Cheese: ricotta, blue cheese, gorgonzola, pecorino, goat cheese, feta, roquefort, parmesan, Brie, and Gruyère.
    • Condiments: extra virgin olive oil, honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, lemon juice, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, and apple cider vinegar.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Pear Salad
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 252 Calories from Fat 126
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 14g22%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 8g
    Cholesterol 16mg5%
    Potassium 399mg11%
    Carbohydrates 29g10%
    Dietary Fiber 6g25%
    Sugar 17g19%
    Protein 7g14%
    Vitamin A 597IU12%
    Vitamin B6 0.1mg5%
    Vitamin C 37mg45%
    Vitamin E 4mg27%
    Vitamin K 9µg9%
    Calcium 132mg13%
    Folate 41µg10%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 0.5mg25%
    Magnesium 53mg13%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this pear salad, you might also enjoy:

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico and Louise, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

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