Pear and Arugula Salad with Honey Vinaigrette Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Pear and Arugula Salad with creamy goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, and a sweet and tangy honey vinaigrette dressing. This light salad combines peppery arugula with juicy pears and aromatic thyme for a perfect balance of flavors, ideal as a healthy lunch or a side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook, Tossed
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 6 cups arugula
- 1 ½ cups Bartlett pears, chopped (about 2 pears)
- ⅓ cup goat cheese
- ¼ cup walnuts
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
Honey Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the Vinaigrette: In a small jar or bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, finely chopped shallots, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the fresh arugula, chopped Bartlett pears, crumbled goat cheese, walnuts, and fresh thyme leaves.
- Toss and Adjust: Drizzle the honey vinaigrette over the salad ingredients and toss gently to ensure everything is evenly coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to serving plates or a bowl and enjoy immediately for the freshest flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use ripe Bartlett pears for the best natural sweetness and texture.
- Walnuts can be toasted lightly for added crunch and nutty flavor.
- Substitute goat cheese with feta or blue cheese if preferred.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with agave nectar and use a dairy-free cheese alternative.
- Prepare the vinaigrette in advance and refrigerate for up to 2 days; whisk before using.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: pear salad, arugula salad, honey vinaigrette, goat cheese salad, healthy salad, walnut salad, fresh salad
