This Pear Walnut Gorgonzola Salad is a light and healthy side dish that pairs well with any meal. It has only 4-ingredients and is perfect served with your favorite raspberry vinaigrette. Add cranberries or pomegranate arils for a festive holiday touch.
First off, I love pears! Who wouldn’t love these sweet, juicy and versatile fruits? I think they rank right behind apples with what you can make with them. I love to carry them for lunches, have one as an afternoon snack or bake up a crumble, upside down cake or tart.
Not too long ago I was served a Pear Salad at an Italian restaurant. I hadn’t really thought of having pears any other way, other than as a delicious piece of fruit. But, let me tell you, that salad really changed my mind. It was full of greens, tossed with fresh juicy pears, crunchy walnuts and a touch of gorgonzola cheese. They served it with a very light raspberry vinaigrette but my light lemony vinaigrette works just as well.
This salad is a perfect example of how you can make a healthy side dish with pears. They are a wonderfully nutritious fruit, low in calories and deliciously tasty. Just look at what pears and walnuts bring to this salad.
- Pears are packed with high levels of fiber, which can protect against colon cancer, as well as antioxidants and phyto-nutrients that contain strong anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer fighting properties. They are also low in calories and contain good quantities of Vitamin C, B-complex, copper, iron, potassium, manganese and magnesium.
- Walnuts really up the nutrition and health level of this salad. Just 1/4 cup provides 100% RDA of omega-3 fats which combat free radicals in the body, reduce risk of prostate cancer, support heart and brain health and have anti-inflammatory properties as well.
Make this Pear Walnut Gorgonzola Salad more seasonal by adding fresh cranberries.
Why not try this salad for the holidays with the addition of either cranberries or pomegranate arils. There’s nothing like bright red and greens to make the holiday table more festive.
Enjoy!
This Pear Walnut Gorgonzola Salad is a light and healthy side dish that pairs well with any meal. It has only 4-ingredients and is perfect served with your favorite raspberry vinaigrette. Add cranberries or pomegranate arils for a festive holiday touch.
- 1 lb Spring greens
- 2 pears cored & thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup walnuts or to your liking
- 4-6 oz. Gorgonzola cheese
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries optional
- Your favorite raspberry or lemon vinaigrette see recipe in notes below
- 1/4 cup cranberries or pomegranate arils optional
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In a large bowl, mix all the above ingredients. Do not peel pears as you will lose 1/2 the fiber and 3-4X the phyto nutrients without the skin.
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Adding cranberries or pomegranate arils are optional but does make the salad look very festive for the holidays.
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Toss with your favorite vinaigrette.
For lemon vinaigrette, mix the following in a small sealable jar: 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 2 Tablespoons extra virgin light olive oil, 1/4 cup light vinegar such as a rice wine vinegar then season with salt and pepper to taste. Shake and serve on side.
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