Pear And Spinach Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette (2024)

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Fresh pears, spinach, toasted pecans, red onion, and Parmesan cheese are all tossed in a homemade dressing to make a fall salad masterpiece! It’s the perfect combination of crunchy, creamy, salty, and sweet.

Like Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing and Mediterranean Pasta Salad, this dish can be served as a side or a delicious main dish.

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I love eating seasonally, and this salad recipe fits right into that plan. I have taken my favorite greens and added an autumnal vibe with other ingredients that you can easily find this time of year.

This Spinach Pear Salad is fresh, delicious, and easy to make. I love it for lunch, but I’ve also served it as a side dish along with Air Fryer Salmon and turned it into a main dish by adding Cajun Garlic Shrimp.

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Ingredients For Spinach Salad With Pears

Fresh Spinach
Pears – I use a combination of Anjou, and Red pears. Bosc, or Bartlett pears can be used as well.
Lemon Juice
Toasted Pecans
Red Onion
Parmesan Cheese – you can substitute blue cheese, Gorgonzola, goat cheese, or feta.
Homemade Balsamic Dressing
Salt and Pepper

How Do You Cut And Prep Pears For Salads?

It’s easy and takes just minutes to prepare sweet, juicy pears for this salad.

Wash and dry the pears. Cut each pear in half and lay flat on a cutting board. Cut into slices with the amount of thickness you like.
To keep the pears from turning brown, add about 1 cup of cool water and half a lemon juice to a small bowl, dip the pear slices in the water, then dry on paper towels.

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How To Toast Pecans

One of the secrets to making this salad extra special is the addition of toasted pecans. They bring a nutty flavor and texture that pairs beautifully with the sweet pears.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add pecans. Toss in butter and toast for 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Remove pan from heat, sprinkle with salt and let pecans cool. Store in an airtightcontainerin the fridge for up to 1 month.

If you prefer, you can substitute walnuts or almonds and toast them using the same method I use for pecans.

Can I Use Baby Spinach In This Recipe?

Absolutely. Baby spinach leaves are smaller, more tender, and slightly sweeter than mature spinach. They can be used as a substitution in most recipes, including salads. In fact, many people prefer baby spinach in salads because of its tender texture and mild flavor.

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What Salad Dressing Is Best For Pear Spinach Salad?

My favorite for this salad is a light, flavorful balsamic vinaigrette with a touch of sweetness and just the right amount of tang. Here’s how to make it:

Add olive oil (or extra virgin olive oil) , balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or mason jar.

Whisk together or shake until well-mixed. This dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

How To Make This Pear Salad Recipe

Gather all the ingredients with a large bowl, mason jar with a lid, cutting board, knife, and salad tongs.
Toast the pecans. While the nuts are cooling, slice the pears, place them in the lemon water, then slice the red onion.
Add fresh spinach to the bowl, then add the pears, onion, pecans, and shreds of Parmesan cheese.
Make the balsamic vinaigrette. Season the salad with salt and pepper and drizzle on the dressing. Gently toss and serve.

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What To Serve With Easy Salad Recipe

I’m not joking when I say there are so many ways to serve this salad. It’s perfect as a side dish, but also great to make into a main dish with the addition of hard-boiled eggs and chicken. I plan to serve it for Thanksgiving and Christmas alongside ham and turkey. I can taste it now!

Here are some of my favorite recipes to serve alongside this salad:

Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
Easy Marinated London Broil
Herb Butter Roasted Chicken And Potatoes
Best Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Brown Sugar Mustard Baked Ham

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Craving More? Try These Salad Recipes

Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Green Bean Salad
Best Caprese Pasta Salad
Spaghetti Salad

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