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I love the flavors that come to life with this pear salad. For this recipe, I’ve taken sweet pear with savory fennel to make a shaved salad that is loaded with flavor. It makes for a great snack, side dish, or even slaw to add to a gourmet grilled cheese.
Why you’ll love this pear salad:
- Quick: Make this pear salad recipe in only 10 minutes
- Flavorful: A unique (but delicious) combination of sweet and savory flavors
- Versatile: Eat it on its own, add it as a side dish, or use it as a topper to a delicious sandwich
Ingredient Notes:
Pear: Ripe pears work best but in a pinch use what you can find and let the pear sit in the dressing for 5 minutes before tossing with the rest of the ingredients as it will help to slightly soften them.
Fennel: Part of the carrot family, fennel has a unique, black licorice-like flavor that pairs so well with the pear. Fennel is a great source of potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and calcium. It’s also said that fennel seeds (which you’ll find as an ingredient in a lot of recipes) have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties too.
How to make pear salad:
- Make the dressing by whisking together all the ingredients or shaking in a mason jar. Set aside.
- Add the sliced pear and fennel to a bowl. Toss with the dressing and capers. Top with walnuts and another sprinkle of salt if desired.
Expert Tips & FAQ:
What nuts go best with pears? Pears pair so nicely with nuts and you can totally sprinkle some onto this pear salad recipe. I’d use walnuts, pecans and/or almonds.
What is good to put on pears? If you are eating just pears or looking for other ways to enjoy them, you can add herbs and spices to them like allspice, cinnamon, and cardamom, or go more savory with things like tarragon, rosemary, and thyme.
What is the sweetest pear for a salad? You’ll want to use either Bartlett or Anjou. If you can’t find these, Bosc pears also work fine. You’ll want a pear that is ripe but firm so it holds its consistency in a salad.
What country are pears from? The main producing country is China, followed by Italy and the United States.
Other recipes you’ll love:
- Quick + Easy Watermelon + Mint with Tofu Feta Salad
- Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Pistachios
- Pearl Couscous Greek Salad with Tofu Feta and a Creamy Dill Dressing
- Greek Lentil Salad
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Ingredients
- 2 ripe pears, shaved or sliced thin, cut into half inch wide strips, (Anjou or Bartlett pears work best)
- 1 large fennel bulb, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp capers
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
For the dressing
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- juice from one lemon (2-3 tbsp lemon juice)
- ½ tsp Diamond Crystal salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
Start Cooking- Make the dressing by whisking together all the ingredients or shaking in a mason jar. Set aside.
- Add the sliced pear and fennel to a bowl. Toss with the dressing and capers. Top with walnuts and another sprinkle of salt if desired.
Notes
- Ripe pears work best but in a pinch use what you can find and let the pear sit in the dressing for 5 minutes before tossing with the rest of the ingredients as it will help to slightly soften them.
Maria Koutsogiannia
Maria is the creator of FoodByMaria and your go-to Greek food expert for cozy, flavor-packed recipes. Inspired by her Mediterranean roots, she brings traditional Greek flavors, feel-good ingredients, and a whole lot of joy to everyday cooking.
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