Salads feel so much easier to make as it starts to warm up outside. I threw together this Pear & Walnut Salad in just minutes for a birthday party!
Keeping in mind that I was serving a few extra taste buds than just my own…I wanted to do a few things:
- Use seasonal fruits and veggies
- Balance the sweet & tart flavors with fruits, veggies, greens and vinegar
- Add a pop of color
Spinach & Arugula
Spinach is a neutrally sweet green while arugula is rather bitter. The combo of the two provides variety in every bite – including the differences in shapes and sizes!
Pear & Watermelon Radish
Green pears are soft and sweet while watermelon radishes are crunchy and zingy. I LIVE for watermelon radishes! Radishes in salads are always a great choice but there is something special about a watermelon radish – it’s slightly sweeter and had this incredible watermelon color (aka my pop of color!)
Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Strawberry jam is sweetness overload, but a little bit mixed with balsamic vinegar diversifies the flavor combination. This sweeter finishing touch rounds out all of the other toppings: Quinoa, Walnuts & Chives!
#Lettucebowandsay “The pearfect balance of flavors!”
Here’s what you’ll need:
Pear & Walnut Salad + Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Equipment
- Stove
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Quinoa (cooked)
- Green Pear (julienned)
- Watermelon Radish (sliced, halved)
- Walnuts
- Chives
For the Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 2 Tbsp Strawberry Jam
- 1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 Cup EVOO
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
Cook the Quinoa:
- Bring quinoa and water to a boil – 1:2 ratio depending on how much salad you prepare! (i.e. 1/4 Cup Quinoa: 1/2 Cup Water). Roughly 1/4 Cup cooked per salad.
- Cook until quinoa has absorbed all of the water – or the rings have popped! ~12-15 mins
Prep the Dressing:
- Whisk ingredients together in a bowl until the jam is completely mixed with the oil and vinegar
Make the Salad:
- Start with the greens and add in the toppings
- Finish with the dressing and enjoy!
March Seasonal Fruits + Veggies
used in this recipe:
Click to find more recipes with these ingredients!