Arugula and Pear Bowl (Printable)

Peppery arugula meets sweet pears with creamy cheese and toasted nuts in this vibrant 15-minute salad.

# Ingredient List:

→ Greens

01 - 4 cups fresh arugula

→ Fruit

02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced

→ Cheese

03 - 2 oz crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese

→ Nuts

04 - 0.5 cup toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped

→ Dressing

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon honey
08 - 0.5 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
02 - Place arugula in a large salad bowl. Add sliced pears, crumbled cheese, and toasted nuts.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Gently toss to combine and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes: No cooking, no fussing, just knife work and assembly on a busy weeknight.
  • The contrast is addictive: Peppery greens, sweet fruit, creamy cheese, and toasted nuts create a flavor experience that keeps you coming back for another forkful.
  • It feels more elegant than it actually is: Serve it to guests and they'll think you spent way more time on it than you did.
02 -
  • Slice your pears right before assembly: They oxidize quickly and will turn brown if you prep them early, which looks sad and affects the taste ever so slightly.
  • Cold ingredients make the biggest difference: Everything should come straight from the fridge or a cool counter—warm salad is a sad salad.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a jam jar and shake it: It's faster than whisking and you can store any leftovers without dirtying extra bowls.
  • Try a splash of pomegranate vinegar instead of balsamic: It deepens the flavor in a way that feels unexpected and sophisticated.
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