Delicious, Nutritious Pear & Walnut Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
/This pear and walnut salad with honey mustard dressing is an easy and delicious salad to make. This is my take on one of my Mom and I's favorite local hometown restaurants. We've ordered a similar salad to this for lunch together more times than I can count. This salad is the perfect way to get your daily dose of greens and vitamins while still satisfying your sweet tooth. The combination of crunchy caramelized walnuts, sweet pears, and tangy honey mustard dressing make this salad an impressive yet simple dish to prepare. Plus, the ingredients are all easy to find and affordable. So, if you're looking for a flavorful and nutritious salad, look no further than this pear and walnut salad with honey mustard dressing. You can add some grilled chicken or salmon to the salad to make it a more complete and filling meal. This pear and walnut salad with honey mustard dressing is a great way to enjoy the flavors of Fall. Being full of nutrition-packed ingredients and delicious flavor combinations, this meal is sure to become a regular in your rotation, especially on those days when you're feeling like you need a healthier option.
Can I Use a Different Cheese or Nuts?
Of course! You don’t have to use feta cheese as I did, so you can experiment with different cheeses to create your favorite unique flavor. Consider using a sharp cheddar for a tangy kick, or a creamy goat cheese for a salty flavor. You can also try blue cheese or gorgonzola for a pungent flavor, or brie for a buttery taste. Have fun with it and find the cheese that best suits your salad. To top it off, a honey mustard dressing is a great way to bring all the flavors together.
Another substitution choice for this salad is changing out the nut that you use for that amazing crunch. I personally love the mix of walnuts and pears, however, you can use pecans or hazelnuts here as well.
What Type of Pear is Best?
Anjou pears are the perfect choice for a pear and walnut salad. This variety of pear is sweet and juicy, adding a delicious sweetness to the dish. Bosc pears are also a good option, as their firm texture and honey-like flavor bring a great depth to the salad. Bartlett pears are great for salads, as their mild sweetness will be balanced out nicely by the tartness of the dressing. Comice pears are a great choice as well, as their buttery texture and sweet flavor will perfectly complement the honey mustard dressing. Lastly, Seckel pears are the ideal choice for a pear and walnut salad, as their sweet flavor and crisp texture will provide a great contrast to the crunchy walnuts. With such an array of pears to choose from, you're sure to create an amazing salad that everyone will love!
How to tell when pears are ripe?
First, look for pears that are slightly soft to the touch and avoid pears that are firm and have green tints. The best pears for this dish will have a rich yellow or golden color. To test for ripeness, tap the pear lightly with your finger and if it yields to pressure then it is ripe. Additionally, smell the pear near the stem; if it has a sweet, fragrant smell, it is ripe. Lastly, test for ripeness by gently pressing the neck of the pear with your thumb; if it yields slightly, the pear is ripe. With these tips, you can easily find the perfect pear to make your pear & walnut salad with honey mustard dressing.
Ingredients
10 ounces of mixed greens
1/2 cup caramelized walnuts
1/3 cup thinly sliced red onions
1 tomato sliced
1/2 cup feta cheese
2 thinly sliced pears
Dressing
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons raw honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 cup mayonnaise or extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
1. Rinse and pat dry all fruit and vegetables. Sliced pears thinly, onions into strips and tomatoes into thin wedges.
2. Add all dressing ingredients into a mixer or mason jar and shake until smooth. This dressing can be premade in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days ahead of time.
3. Now it's time to assemble the pear and walnut salad with honey mustard. Add half the onions, half the feta cheese, and half of the thinly sliced pears. Pour dressing over top and mix up! Dish out salad in a single layer onto plates and then layer the remainder of the pears and onions on top. Sprinkle feta cheese and add tomato wedges on the side and serve!
This salad is also a great way to get a healthy dose of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Pears are a great source of fiber, walnuts are high in antioxidants, and honey mustard dressing adds a nice touch of sweetness. Plus, the walnuts provide a nice crunchy texture to the salad. Whether you're having this as a shareable appetizer, a light lunch or a full-course dinner, this salad is a great way to add a variety of flavors and textures to your meal. It's sure to be a hit with everyone at the table! So why not give it a try and see for yourself just how delicious this Honey Mustard, Pear and Walnut Salad can be?
