Fresh and colorful pear salad made with mixed greens, juicy pears, pomegranate seeds, feta cheese, candied pecans and topped with a homemade balsamic dressing. Simple and elegant, it’s the perfect side to any fall dinner!
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Favorite Fall Salad
This is one of my favorite salads to make for the holidays! It always looks so pretty on the dinner table and tastes delicious. It’s definitely on my Thanksgiving menu this year.
The holidays are filled with lots of heavy side dishes, so it’s nice to have a fresh and healthy option at the table too. This pear pomegranate salad is one of my favorites to make at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, as well as my easy fall salad, arugula beet salad recipe or apple cranberry spinach salad.
I like to buy enough of the ingredients to make more for the day after. After a day of indulging, my body usually craves a big salad. So this is the perfect way to get in extra fruit and veggies after a day of celebrating. It’s so delicious that you won’t even remember it’s healthy!
Pear Salad Ingredients
- Greens: Spinach, arugula or spring mix all taste great.
- Pears: Use ripe pears for the best result. To test the ripeness, press down on the skin of the pear (near the stem) with your thumb. If it’s soft and slightly gives when pressing down, then it’s ready to enjoy.
- Pomegranate seeds: Not only do they taste delicious, but these seeds add a beautiful pop of color. You can seed your own pomegranate, or buy prepackaged seeds from the grocery.
- Cheese: Feta cheese is my favorite when making this pear salad. Gorgonzola or goat cheese will also work too.
- Candied pecans: You can make your own candied pecans, or buy them premade. Any type of mixed candied nuts would also taste great.
- Dressing: Balsamic dressing balances out all of the flavors perfectly. You can also make a simple vinaigrette with red wine vinegar.
How to Make Pear Salad
- Assemble the greens in a large bowl.
- Add the sliced pears, candied pecans, pomegranate seeds and feta on top.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss until combined.
Tips + Modifications
- Pears brown quickly, so slice them just before serving.
- You can use regular pecans if you prefer. Walnuts and almonds also taste great.
- Dried cranberries will also work in place of pomegranate seeds.
- For even more fall flavor, add some roasted butternut squash or roasted sweet potatoes.
- Add leftover turkey or roasted chicken to make a complete meal.
More Holiday Side Dishes
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Pear Salad
Ingredients
- 6 to 8 cups spinach, arugula or spring mix
- 2 pears
- ⅓ cup pomegranate seeds (arils)
- 3 to 4 Tablespoons feta cheese (or gorgonzola)
- ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette (or red wine vinaigrette, more if desired)
- ½ cup candied pecans
Instructions
- Place the spinach in a large bowl. Slice the pear into thin slices and remove the pomegranate seeds. The add on top of greens.
- Sprinkle the candied pecans, pomegranate seeds and feta cheese on top. Drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Toss the salad until combined.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Fruit Salad, Salads, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I made this salad for church relief society Friendsgiving and it was a hit!! I used apples and dried cranberries instead of pears and pomegranates. The dressing was the star of course! It was the perfect combo of sweet and savory. Multiple ladies asked for the recipe! This is one I will definitely make again! *Tip- soak the apples in a mixture of lemon juice and water to help them from turning brown!
Thanks for the tip! So glad you enjoyed the pear salad :)
I love all of the flavors in this salad, so bright and perfect for a holiday meal! The best part is that it is as pretty as it is delicious!
Looks fantastic. I know my family would love this!
I love how fresh this is while still having all the flavors of the holidays! Love the addition of the pomegranate seeds.