This Arugula Pear and Parmesan salad is a perfect combination of sweet and savoury flavours. Topped with toasted maple walnuts and drizzled with a delectable maple-balsamic dressing, this salad is a healthy treat for your taste buds!
This nutritious Arugula Pear and Parmesan Salad, topped with crunchy Maple Walnuts and drizzled with Maple-Balsamic Dressing will elevate your salad game! No more boring green salads!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick to make: With a short list of ingredients, this arugula pear salad takes minutes to make.
- Balanced: Sweet pears, salty Parmesan and peppery arugula make this an elevated green salad!
- Adaptable: It's easy to change the add-ins for this arugula pear salad, based on what you have in your fridge or pantry. Change the nuts, change the cheese and make it your own!
Arugula salad (also known as rocket salad) is a nice change from your typical mixed green salad. You might like these arugula salads, too:
🛒 Ingredients and substitutions
You'll find a complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes about the ingredients.
- arugula: Fresh, peppery arugula makes the base for this salad. Buy the freshest arugula you can find! While I grow my own in the summer, I was lucky to find locally grown greenhouse arugula in my local market this winter.
- pear: Any variety. Sweet and soft Bartletts are perfect in late summer and early fall, and firm Anjou or Bosc pears are ideal for the winter months.
- Parmigiano Reggiano: Use Parmesan to create thin shavings to top the salad.
- Maple-Glazed Walnuts: made with walnuts, maple syrup and a hint of sea salt.
- Maple-Balsamic Dressing: You'll need shallots, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.
🔪 Instructions
Here's an overview of what you'll do to make this recipe perfectly. You'll find complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Make Maple Balsamic Dressing, then set aside.
- Make Maple Glazed Walnuts and set them aside to cool.
- Toss arugula with a tablespoon or two of maple balsamic dressing and transfer to a serving bowl.
- Slice a pear and add to the arugula.
- Use a vegetable peeler to make some Parmesan shavings.
- Add the Parmesan and walnuts to the salad and serve.
🔁 Possible Variations
Here are a few ideas for ways to vary this arugula pear salad:
- Substitute different nuts: Try making an arugula pear salad with hazelnuts or pecans.
- Substitute a different cheese: How about an Arugula Pear and Gorgonzola salad? Or sub feta cheese or goat cheese for the Parmesan.
- Add more protein: Tuck pieces of prosciutto in among the pears for an extra burst of salty flavour!
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
Buy the freshest arugula you can find. If the leaves are turning yellow, avoid it!
If you don't plan to serve this salad right away, you may want to toss the pears with a teaspoon or two of lemon juice to prevent browning.
❓Reader's Questions
Arugula is an excellent source of antioxidants. It's easy to digest, so it is less likely to cause stomach upset. Arugula (also known as rocket) is also a good source of Vitamins A and C.
It's a member of the cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli.
🍽 What to serve with arugula salad
This peppery, sweet and salty arugula salad makes a delicious side salad for most entrées. It also makes a satisfying lunch. Try it with any of the following:
- Air Fryer Almond-Crusted Chicken
- Easy Baked Lemon Chicken
- Grilled Rosemary Mustard Chicken Kabobs
- Honey-Dijon Glazed Salmon in Foil
- Mini Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie with Mushrooms
⏰ Storage Instructions
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two. It's best to dress just the amount you need, and store the dressing separately.
🗒 More healthy salad recipes
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📖 Recipe
Arugula Pear and Parmesan Salad with Maple Walnuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons Maple Balsamic Dressing
- ⅓ cup Maple Glazed Walnuts
- 6 cups fresh arugula
- 1 medium pear, any variety
- 2 oz. Parmigiano Reggiano
Maple Balsamic Dressing
- 1 tablespoon shallot, minced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup olive oil, extra virgin
- sea slat and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make Maple Balsamic Dressing. Combine all ingredients in a small jar and shake, or combine in a mini food processor or blender. Set aside.
- Make Maple Glazed Walnuts and set aside to cool.
- Toss arugula with a tablespoon or two of maple balsamic dressing and transfer to a serving bowl.
- Slice a pear and add to the arugula.
- Use a vegetable peeler to make shavings of Parmesan cheese.
- Add the Parmesan and maple walnuts to the salad and serve.
Ava
I planned to make this when you first posted it, because I love your maple balsamic dressing. Finally made it on the weekend. It did NOT disappoint. So delicious! Will definitely be making this one on repeat!