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-tangy honey vinaigrette. Perfect as a light lunch or elegant side dish, this easy-to-make salad balances peppery greens with juicy pears and aromatic thyme for an irresistible flavor combination.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 6 cups arugula
- 1½ 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, chopped shallots, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until the ingredients are well combined and emulsified, forming a smooth dressing.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the arugula, chopped Bartlett pears, crumbled goat cheese, walnuts, and fresh thyme, mixing gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.
- Toss and Adjust: Drizzle the honey vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients thoroughly. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper if desired for balanced seasoning.
- Serve: Plate the salad immediately to enjoy the fresh flavors and crisp textures at their best.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds if preferred.
- For a vegan version, replace goat cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Use freshly chopped thyme for the best flavor; dried thyme can be used but reduce the quantity to 1 teaspoon.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of arugula and pears.
- Store leftover vinaigrette separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: pear salad, arugula salad, honey vinaigrette, goat cheese salad, easy salad recipe, fresh salad
