Pear and Rocket Salad

What is Rocket Salad?

Rocket is also called Arugula in the United States and Canada. It is green leaf lettuce that has a peppery flavor, which pairs nicely with many main dishes.

Benefits of Rocket Salad

Rocket salad, aka arugula, is a nutrient-dense leafy green vegetable with calcium, folate, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. It is full of antioxidants that can protect against cell damage. It also has glucosinolates that may protect against certain cancers.

Why You'll Love This Pear Rocket Salad

This is such an elegant salad for your next girls' night in. Tons of flavor, but a great compliment to your main dish.

The peppery kick from the arugula ties in so nicely with the sweet pear. The saltiness of the parmesan cheese along with the sliced onions takes the salad to the next level.

The earthiness of the sliced almonds creates depth but allows the arugula and pear to take center stage.

This pear and rocket salad recipe is super quick to make but comes off as so elegant.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need for the arugula pear salad:

• Arugula spring salad mix
• Pear - make sure the pear is ripe but firm
• Parmesan cheese - elevates the salad with its strong umami flavor
• Red onion - adds color and has a milder taste than yellow onions
• Sliced almonds - add a nice crunch
• Salt
• Pepper

Here's what you'll need for the pear salad dressing:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Rosé balsamic vinegar - is a lighter, brighter tasting vinegar than straight balsamic
• Honey - adds sweetness to the dressing
• Dijon mustard - gives a burst of tanginess
• Salt
• Pepper

Not only is this the best dressing for rocket salad, it's also great on many other mixed green salads. You'll find it to be a staple and will use it often.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• The best pears for salad are firm ones that are not over-ripe or mushy. Bosc, Anjou, and Bartlett pears are great choices.
• Vinegar alternatives: red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or rice vinegar.
• Cheese alternatives: feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, stilton, or gorgonzola.
• Nut alternatives: walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, or pepitas (pumpkin seed kernels).
• Arugula alternatives: all mixed greens or spinach.
• Add grilled chicken for a hearty main dish salad.

How to Make Rocket Pear Salad

1. Place rocket spring mix in a large bowl. Slice pear and red onion.
2. Shave Parmesan cheese.

3. Mix olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
4. Place the sliced salad ingredients and cheese on top of the rocket spring mix.

5. For the finishing touch, drizzle the vinaigrette over individual servings of arugula pear salad. Serve while the salad is fresh and crisp.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Use a vegetable peeler to shave parmesan into long strips.
• If you want more dressing you can double the recipe. It is a light dressing. A spoonful is used for each serving.
• Because dressing will wilt salad greens, it is best to dress the salad just prior to serving.
• If you have leftovers and the salad has been dressed, the following day the salad will be wilted and wet.
• The dressing can be made ahead of time. It can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Note the oil will solidify and you'll need to set it out to get it to room temperature. Shake it vigorously prior to drizzling it on the salad.

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