Winter Green Salad Pear (Print version)
Crisp winter greens combined with sweet pear and crunchy candied walnuts, dressed in tangy vinaigrette.
# What you'll need:
→ Salad
01 - 5 oz mixed winter greens (arugula, spinach, frisée, radicchio)
02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced
03 - ½ cup crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese
04 - ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Candied Walnuts
05 - ¾ cup walnut halves
06 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
07 - ½ tbsp unsalted butter
08 - Pinch of sea salt
→ Vinaigrette
09 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tsp honey
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to make it:
01 - Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add walnut halves, granulated sugar, and unsalted butter. Stir constantly for 3 to 4 minutes until sugar melts and coats the walnuts evenly. Sprinkle with sea salt, transfer to a parchment-lined plate, and allow to cool completely.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until emulsified.
03 - Place mixed winter greens in a large bowl and toss with half of the vinaigrette to lightly coat evenly. Arrange greens on a serving platter or individual plates.
04 - Layer thinly sliced pears, red onion, crumbled cheese, and cooled candied walnuts over the dressed greens.
05 - Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the assembled salad just before serving to maintain freshness and texture.
# Expert suggestions:
01 -
- The candied walnuts steal the show and honestly make any salad feel special without much effort.
- It comes together in 25 minutes but tastes like you planned it all week.
- The pear softens the bitterness of winter greens in the most elegant way imaginable.
02 -
- Don't walk away from the walnuts while they're candying—they go from perfect to burnt in about 30 seconds, and burnt sugar tastes like regret.
- Slice your pears moments before serving, because they brown quickly and brown pear slices look sad, no matter how they taste.
- Cold greens make the salad feel more refreshing, so chill them for a few minutes before assembling if you have time.
03 -
- Whisk your vinaigrette in a small jar and shake it before serving to redistribute any settled honey or mustard.
- If your pears are slightly underripe, slice them an hour before serving and they'll soften just enough—or if they're too ripe, refrigerate them until the last moment.