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    Arugula Pear Salad

    Sep 20, 2022 by Katia · Leave a Comment

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more details.

    Close-up of a white plate full of arugula pear salad.

    This autumn arugula pear salad features arugula leaves with a delicious classic combination of juicy pears, blue cheese and walnuts. It’s easy, ready in no time, and tastes fresh and fabulous.

    And it’s worthy of your festive gatherings, or any meal in between!

    Top view of a white salad plate full of   arugula pear salad with walnuts and crumbled blue cheese.
    Jump to recipe

    This simple arugula and pear salad has been one of my favourite go-to holiday salad for years now. I can whip it up in less than 15 minutes with just a few ingredients, it’s beautiful, and it always hits the spot!

    And if you love pairing fruit with cheese and nuts, this is the salad for you.

    The tangy blue cheese cuts the sweetness of the ripe pears and balances the flavors, while the walnuts add their lovely buttery crunch.

    Then the peppery arugula leaves and sliced pears are gently tossed with a light vinaigrette, because with all the delicious flavours going on here, we don’t want the dressing to steal the attention!

    This is the kind of salad that’s elegant and festive enough for a special occasion meal, but it’s so easy to make that you’ll toss it together for everyday dinners and lunches too.

    And it’s perfect to convert anyone to being a salad lover!

    List of the ingredients

    • Pears
    • Arugula leaves
    • Blue cheese
    • Walnuts or pecans
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Honey
    • Dijone mustard
    • Salt & pepper
    The ingredients to make this arugula pear salad are arranged over a white background.

    How to make arugula pear salad

    (Note: this is a quick description with step-by-step photos, the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

    • Shake the dressing ingredients in a glass jar and set aside.
      I use this glass dressing shaker for my salad dressings, it’s so practical and I love the anti-drip spout that doesn’t leak.
    Two images showing how to shake the dressing ingredients in a glass jar until they're emulsified.
    • Toast the walnuts to bring out their nutty flavor.
    • Halve the pears and using a corer or a tea spoon scoop out the core.
    • Use a sharp knife or a mandoline to slice the pears.
    Top view of three conference pears halved and cores removed.
    • Arrange the arugula, the pears, the cheese and the walnuts in a serving bowl.
    • Drizzle with the dressing, and gently toss just before serving. It’s delicious served with crusty bread, crispy breadsticks or warm focaccia!
    Close-up of a dressing bottle pouring the dressing over the arugula and pear salad.

    Recipe notes

    Arugula pear salad ingredients

    Arugula (aka rocket): the peppery flavor of fresh baby arugula is perfect to balance the sweetness of the pears. This cruciferous vegetable is packed with great health benefits!

    Pears: juicy ripe pears are not negotiable here. I used Conference pears, which are in season and good value in the UK, but you can use any variety you want, as long as they’re ripe and taste delicious.

    Blue cheese: roquefort, gorgonzola piccante (aged and drier than sweet gorgonzola), Danish blue cheese, they all work fine in this pear arugula salad. Make sure the cheese is creamy but firm enough to crumble or to be cut into small pieces. 

    Walnuts: for their nutty flavor and crunchy texture, and it’s worth toasting them on the stove or in the oven, it brings out their delicious earthiness. Pecans are great too, but more expensive than walnuts.

    Dressing: I used a vinaigrette made with extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard that emulsify the dressing and adds a touch of tangy flavour. I’ve also added a touch of honey for sweetness and flavor.

    If you look for more recipes with arugula…

    You might love this collection of delicious arugula recipes which includes arugula pasta, pizza, and beetroot salad with arugula and sautéed arugula and arugula frittata to enjoy with crispy bread or warm focaccia!

    Top view of a white plate full of arugula pear salad garnished with chopped walnuts and crumbled blue cheese.

    More delicious fall salads

    If you look for more delicious salads that are elegant but easy to make, check this collection of holiday salad recipes! Below a few of my favs:

    • Salad with grapes
    • Cabbage salad with apples
    • Beetroot salad
    • Winter salad
    • Artichoke salad
    • Celery and parmesan salad
    • Spinach arugula salad

    This terrific arugula pear salad would be great for potlucks and for your holiday table this time of year. If you make it, or you have a question, let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you! x

    And for more recipe updates, follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

    Top view of a white serving plate full of arugula pear salad with blue cheese.
    Print Recipe

    Arugula Pear Salad

    This delightful arugula pear salad tastes fabulous and it's worthy of your festive gatherings. It combines sliced juicy pears, fresh arugula and flavor-packed blue cheese, and it tastes fabulous.
    Recipe yields 4 (or 6 smaller servings).
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Western
    Keyword: Arugula Pear Salad
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 332kcal
    Author: Katia

    Ingredients

    Arugula pear salad

    • ½ cup (60 grams) walnuts, lightly toasted 
    • 3 juicy and ripe pears, sliced
    • 5oz (150 grams) baby arugula
    • 4oz (110 grams) blue cheese, crumbled

    Salad dressing

    • 1 ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • ¼ teaspoon fine salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    Arugula pear salad

    • Make the dressing: place the dressing ingredients into a jar with lid, shake until well emulsified.
    • Toast the walnuts: toast the walnuts on the stove over medium heat for about 5-6 minutes until they smell nutty. Keep a close eye on them. Alternatively, spread on tray and toast in a 180°C/350°F oven for 8 minutes. When they're cold, break them into pieces.
    • Slice the pears: just before serving, halve the pears and scoop out the core. Cut them into 3mm / 0.12" slices. Make sure you don't cut them too thin, they're very fragile and they will “flop” easily.
    • Assemble the salad: place the arugula leaves in a large salad bowl, and and just before serving drizzle with a touch of dressing and gently toss to lightly coat the leaves (use about 1-2 tablespoons of dressing). Then scatter over the pears, the crumbled cheese, and the toast walnut and drizzle with the remaining dressing . Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    Storage: this arugula pear salad doesn’t keep very well, the arugula leaves will start to wilt and the pears turn brown quickly, especially once you toss it with the dressing.  But if you want to get ahead, you can make the dressing and toast the walnuts up to 2 days in advance. Store the dressing in an airtight container in the fridge, and keep the almonds at room temperature. The whole salad can be assembled a couple of hours before serving, and then drizzled and tossed with the dressing when it’s time to serve. 
    Nutrition facts: the nutrition values are  for one serving and are based on an online nutrition calculator.  It’s an estimate only and it should not be considered as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my disclosure policies. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 473mg | Potassium: 434mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1119IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Hi, I’m Katia! Welcome to my blog where I share easy, delicious, and budget-friendly recipes. I love cooking mainly vegetarian meals in no time at all. Minimum effort, maximum result. Read more…

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