Pear Salad with Balsamic and Walnuts

Sweet, juicy pears balance a tangy balsamic vinaigrette in this pear salad recipe. Simple, elegant, and delicious, it's a perfect autumn side dish.

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pear salad recipe

This pear salad recipe celebrates some of the fall produce that we don’t talk about often enough. For just a moment, we’re all going to forget about apples and squash. This is the season of crisp fennel, tender greens, and sweet, juicy pears that just beg you to eat them. Together, these three fall ingredients create a salad that’s simple, flavorful, and gorgeous. It’s elegant enough for a special occasion meal, but it’s so easy to make that you’ll toss it together for everyday dinners and lunches too.

Chopped pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts add rich, nutty flavor and crunch to this salad, and the tangy balsamic vinaigrette perfectly balances the sweet pears. Along with the fresh produce, the nuts and dressing make this pear salad recipe a show-stopping autumn side dish. I think you’re going to love it!

Pear Salad Recipe Ingredients

This pear salad recipe is packed with varied textures and flavors, but it only calls for a handful of basic ingredients:

Fresh pears! Make sure they’re ripe before you make this salad; sweet, juicy pears are what make it exceptional.
Mixed greens – Use whatever tender greens you like best! I often make this pear salad recipe with a mix of baby kale, spinach, and chard, but baby lettuces or arugula would also be delicious.
Fennel – One of my favorite fall veggies! It adds a crisp bite and mild licorice flavor to this autumn pear salad.
Dried cranberries – They add chewy texture and sweet/tart pops of flavor.
Shaved pecorino cheese – It offers a rich, salty contrast to the sweet pears and cranberries.
Chopped hazelnuts, walnuts, and pecans – Sure, you could make this salad with just one type of nut, but I couldn’t choose between walnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts! Each one has a unique rich, nutty flavor, so I love using all three in this recipe.
Balsamic vinaigrette – A tangy finishing touch!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Pear Salad Recipe Tips

Buy the pears ahead of time. Like peaches, pears often need a few days on the counter to ripen fully. If you can, plan ahead when you make this salad. Buy the pears up to a week in advance and store them at room temperature. When they’re soft, pop them in the fridge until you’re ready to make the recipe.
After you slice the pears, squeeze them with lemon juice. It gives the salad an extra boost of bright flavor, and it prevents the pears from oxidizing, or turning brown. But even with the lemon juice, the pears won’t stay fresh and vibrant forever. Do your best to slice them at the last minute, right before you eat.
Slice the fennel with a mandoline. Anytime I make a fennel salad, I slice the fennel as thinly as I can. That way, it still has a nice crisp bite, but it’s tender enough to mix and mingle with the other ingredients. To get my slices paper-thin, I cut the fennel with a mandoline. It’s quick and easy, and the slices come out perfectly crisp and tender. I highly recommend investing in one – you’ll find yourself using it left and right! Otherwise, carefully slice the fennel with a sharp knife.

Variations

I love this pear salad recipe as written, but like all my salad recipes, it’s flexible! Feel free to change it up to suit your tastes or feature the ingredients you have on hand. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Swap the fruit. Can’t find pears? Used thinly sliced Gala or Honeycrisp apples instead! And if dried cranberries aren’t your thing, try sprinkling your salad with pomegranate arils or dried cherries.
Roast the fennel. The raw fennel adds a nice crisp bite to this simple autumn salad, but roasted fennel’s rich, caramelized flavor would also be delectable here. Try roasting all the fennel or make this salad with fennel 2 ways!
Change the cheese. Replace the pecorino with shaved Parmesan, or top your salad with crumbled goat cheese, gorgonzola cheese, or another type of blue cheese.
Switch the greens. Skip the baby greens, and make this salad with a base of massaged kale instead.

Let me know what variations you try!

Pear Salad Serving Suggestions

This pear salad recipe is a stunning autumn side dish. It would be a fantastic addition to a Thanksgiving or holiday menu, served alongside classic dishes like sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and mashed potatoes.

But there doesn’t have to be a special occasion for you to make this pear salad recipe! It’s super easy to make, so it’s a great quick addition to any fall or winter meal. I love to eat it for lunch with a bowl of butternut squash soup, and it’s a wonderful side dish for everyday vegetarian main dishes like these:

For more fall dinner ideas, check out this post!

More Favorite Fall Salads

If you love this pear salad recipe, try one of these delicious fall salad recipes next: