Pear Salad with Gorgonzola & Hazelnuts
The perfect fall/winter salad - pear gorgonzola salad with juicy pears, chewy cranberries, crunchy hazelnuts, and a simple white balsamic dressing! An elegant side salad that is simple, full of flavor, and perfectly complements any meal.
Servings 6
Calories 203kcal
Ingredients
- 3 cups greens spinach, mixed greens, or arugula
- 1-2 pears, sliced see notes
- 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts
- 2-3 Tablespoons crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries
White Balsamic Dressing
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian herb blend
- salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make salad dressing: In a small jar, add all of the salad dressing ingredients with salt and black pepper to taste, and mix with a spoon. Set dressing aside.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl, add greens (chopped or whole), sliced pears, chopped hazelnuts, cranberries, and crumbled gorgonzola.
- Serve: drizzle dressing over prepared salad, toss, and serve!
Notes
More ingredients to add - add even more flavor to your salad by topping it with pomegranate seeds, sliced apples, dried cherries, or use smoked nuts instead of roasted!
More cheese options - additional cheese that works with this salad would be blue cheese, feta, or goat cheese.
Types of pears to use - you can use a variety of pears for this salad. My favorite choices are Red D'an Jou pears (pictured in this salad), Tosca, and Barlett pears. Most importantly, use ripe pears, but not too ripe. When you touch the pear it should seem slightly soft in texture, but with a little firmness as well. We want juicy fruit - not mushy!
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.9g | Protein: 1.7g | Fat: 16.2g | Cholesterol: 2.1mg | Sodium: 428mg | Sugar: 11.5g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 3mg