Pear & Goat Cheese Salad

Things You’ll Love About This Goat Cheese Salad

• Classic Pairing – Goat cheese and pears are a common and delicious pairing in European countries, especially in France. The tangy flavor of the goat cheese is truly magical when combined with the crisp, sweet pears.
• Seasonal but Light – Pears are in season in the fall, and some varieties are in season through the winter. Fall and winter are also the times when lots of dishes are heartier, so this salad is a nice change from that! It is filling, and the recipe makes 2 large meal-sized salads, while still being light and not heavy.
• Healthy + Satisfying – Packed with greens, fruit, nuts, and 10 grams of protein, this Pear and Goat Cheese Salad is a satisfying meal or side dish that you’ll want to make on repeat.
• Elegant & Beautiful – It’s hearty enough to be a meal, but it’s also beautiful enough as an elegant side dish to bring to dinners and get togethers!

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Ingredients for Salad with Goat Cheese and Pears

Salad

• Mixed Salad Greens – You can find prewashed mixed greens in the produce department of the grocery store. I love that it has a variety of textures and flavors that are great for this pear salad recipe. Arugula works great, too!
• Red or Green Pear – Red and green pears are typically Anjou pears or Bartlett pears and have the right texture for this salad. Bosc pears are too soft and juicy for the salad, so I don’t recommend those!
• Honey Goat Cheese – Goat cheese with a little bit of honey in it can be found by the plain goat cheese in most grocery stores. It has just a bit of sweetness compared to plain. You can, of course, just use plain goat cheese if you’d like!
• Shallot – From the onion family but mild in flavor, the thinly sliced shallots give the salad a little zing and bite. Red onion would be a good alternative if you don’t have shallots.
• Walnuts – Walnuts add crunch and flavor to the salad and can be substituted with your favorite nut like pecans, almonds, pine nuts, or pistachios.

Honey Tarragon Vinaigrette

• Olive Oil – The base of the salad dressing, the olive oil is so good. You can also use avocado oil for the dressing, but I love extra virgin olive oil for a bolder flavor.
• White Wine Vinegar – White wine vinegar has a milder tang than plain white vinegar and also has a little bit of a sweet taste. You can substitute with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar in a pinch.
• Honey – Honey not only sweetens and balances the dressing, but it also acts as the emulsifier that makes a stable dressing. The oil and vinegar won’t separate once they’ve been mixed with the honey. You could also use maple syrup.
• Fresh Tarragon – Fresh tarragon can often been found in plastic containers in the produce section of the grocery store, but you can substitute with 1 teaspoon of dried tarragon instead. It has a very subtle anise or licorice flavor that is herby. It compliments the salad really well!
• Salt & Black Pepper – Add just a pinch, taste, and add more to your preferences.

How to Make a Pear Goat Cheese Salad

This beautiful, elegant salad is actually so easy to make! It comes together in just 15 minutes and it’s the BEST hearty side dish. Here’s how to make a Pear Goat Cheese Salad:

1. Add the greens to the bowls, and top them with the pear slices, shallots, goat cheese, and walnuts.
2. Combine the dressing ingredients in a salad dressing shaker, a mason jar, or a small bowl and mix well.
3. Drizzle the dressing over the salads and serve!

Pear Salad Variations

• Use a Different Dressing – The honey tarragon dressing was absolutely delicious, but you can save time by using a store-bought dressing or try my Easy Classic Lemon Vinaigrette or Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe.
• Apples Instead of Pears – Don’t love the texture or flavor of pears? Use thinly sliced apples instead. I suggest gala, honey crisp, or pink lady apples as a substitute that will work well.
• Swap the Goat Cheese – Believe it or not, blue cheese or gorgonzola is SO GOOD with pears and served with them often. You could also use feta cheese instead of the goat cheese.
• Try Other Greens – Arugula is usually in mixed greens but the spicy, peppery flavor would make a great salad if you used all arugula instead of the mixed greens. You could also use baby spinach or even bibb lettuce.
• Add Some Protein – You can add more protein to the salad and turn it into a hearty dinner. Rotisserie chicken or sliced turkey tastes great in this recipe!

FAQs

Storing Homemade Salad Dressing

Transfer the dressing to a clean, airtight jar, and place it in the fridge. You can refrigerate the dressing for up to 2 weeks. Shake it well before using it.

More Salad Recipes You’ll Love

• Roasted Pumpkin Salad
• Sweet Potato Fennel Salad
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Peach Mozzarella Salad
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