Rocket Fennel and Pear Salad
This fennel and rocket pear salad is made with crunchy pears, creamy feta cheese, spicy arugula and walnuts. The peppery rocket leaves pair beautifully with with the sweetness of the pears and the nuttiness of the walnuts, making its delicious addition to your holiday table.
With a perfect balance of flavors, this simple salad is easy to throw together in ten minutes but still feels refined and fancy. Keep it as is or add cast iron steak or shredded chicken to make it a main dish.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Perfect dish for the holiday season.
- Easy to make with a delicious combination of flavors and textures.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for this pear salad recipe. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions:
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- Spring Mix Greens with Arugula: arugula is also known as rocket lettuce, it’s a slightly bitter and peppery vegetable and may not be everyones cup of tea because of it’s bold flavor. Feel free to swap it out for other leafy greens. For me, the peppery arugula matched with the sweetness of the pears is what makes this salad so flavorful and special.
- Pear: I am using green pears but any type red or Bartlett work too. The best pears will have no dents or bruises and will be slightly soft but not mushy. You can tell the ripeness of the pear by pressing toward the stem. If it has some give, it’s ready to eat. If it’s still hard, it’s not ripe yet.
- Shallot: shallots have a light and sweet flavor. If you prefer a more intense onion flavor, use thinly sliced red onion.
- Feta Cheese: full fat or low fat, goat cheese, blue cheese or shaved parmesan cheese are all great in this salad.
- Walnuts: adds a perfect crunch to the salad. Use candied walnuts for a sweeter flavor or pine nuts or almonds.
- Fennel Bulb: fennel adds a crunchy slightly sweet licorice flavor.
- Olive Oil: use a good quality extra virgin olive oil, as this is the basis of your salad dressing ingredients.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: apple cider vinegar gives your dressing a tangy kick. For a sweeter flavor, use balsamic vinegar.
- Dijon Mustard
- Honey: can be replaced with brown sugar or pure maple syrup.
Variations
- Add pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for more healthy fats.
- Add pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries for a sweet pop of flavor.
Dietary Modifications
- This salad is gluten-free, as is.
- For dairy-free, omit the feta cheese or use a non-dairy alternative.
Let’s make this rocket salad recipe:
Step 1: make salad dressing
To prepare the dressing, add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, sea salt and black pepper to a small jar. Secure lid onto the jar and shake well until all of the ingredients are combined. Set aside.
Step 2: assemble the salad.
Thinly slice pears, set aside. Add mixed greens to a large bowl. Add pears, shallots, feta cheese, walnuts and fennel on top. Generously pour dressing over the top of the salad. Gently toss salad ingredients and dressing with salad tongs until everything is evenly coated. Serve immediately.
Expert Tip!
This salad, as prepared with dressing, is best enjoyed immediately.
Recipe FAQs
This salad is best eaten right away. If you need to prepare this in advance, toss your salad with the mixed greens, shallot and fennel. Add the pear slices, cheese, walnuts and dressing just before serving.
Pear salad goes well with many of your favorite entrees. The pears, shallot and balsamic flavors bring in a fall and wintery feel. Try serving this up with your favorite grilled meats or roasts like cast iron steak, shredded chicken, or honey lemon pepper chicken thighs.
You can tell a pear is ready to eat by pressing on the neck, toward the stem. If there’s some give to it, it’s ready to be eaten. If it’s still hard, it’s not quite ripe. Pears go from hard to ripe quickly so make sure there’s no bruises or dents.
If you need to prepare this in advance just wait to add the pear slices, cheese, walnuts and dressing just before serving.
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Rocket Pear Salad
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Ingredients
Salad
- 6 cups spring mix with arugula (rocket salad)
- 1 medium ripe pear
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- To prepare the dressing, add all dressing ingredients (olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, honey, sea salt, black pepper) to a small jar. Secure lid onto the jar and shake well until all of the ingredients are combined. Set aside.
- Thinly slice pears, set aside. Add mixed greens to a large serving dish. Add pears, shallots, feta cheese, walnuts and fennel on top.
- Generously pour dressing over the top of the salad. Gently toss salad ingredients with the dressing until everything is evenly coated. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If using pre-washed rocket lettuce, there’s no need to wash your leaves. If using fresh or a combination of lettuce, be sure to wash your lettuce with a salad spinner to remove any dirt.
- This salad is best to be enjoyed immediately. If you need to prepare this in advance, toss your salad with the mixed greens, shallot and fennel. Add the sweet pear, cheese, walnuts and dressing just before serving.
- Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary with substitutions.
