Arugula Pear Salad

This Arugula Pear Salad a simple combination of baby arugula with sliced pears, toasted walnuts, and shaved parmesan, all tossed together in a homemade red wine vinaigrette dressing. It’s perfect to serve with pasta, pizza, or any weeknight meal.

This arugula pear salad is inspired by a salad that my husband and I used to order at our local pizza restaurant. It’s healthy, easy to make, and has become a crowd favorite at parties and holiday gatherings.

Arugula is one of my favorite greens to use in salad because it has a unique, peppery flavor. It pairs well with fruit, cheese, and vinaigrette dressing.

Arugula pear salad ingredients

Baby arugula: Also known as rocket, arugula has a spicy, peppery, and slightly nutty flavor. The leaves are crisp and tender.

Due to arugula’s delicate nature, I recommend buying it just a couple of days before you plan to make this salad, so it stays fresh.

Pear: Anjou pears or Bartlett pears works best for this salad recipe.

To tell if a pear is ripe, press gently around the stem of the pear. If it gives a little, then this means that it’s ripe and ready to eat.

Walnuts: I use toasted walnuts for this recipe because they have a rich, deep, and nutty flavor. Toasting the walnuts intensifies their sweetness and reduces any bitterness of the nut.

Parmigiano-Reggiano: This has a slightly sweet and salty flavor. I like using shaved parmesan for this salad, but you can use freshly grated cheese if desired.

Red wine vinaigrette dressing: My homemade red wine vinaigrette is creamy, zesty, and complements the bold flavors in this salad.

It’s made with red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and dried oregano. You can also add fresh minced garlic if desired.

How to make arugula pear salad

Toast the walnuts. Set a dry medium skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the walnuts in a single layer.

Stir the walnuts for 3 to 6 minutes until they’re fragrant and a deep shade of brown. Keep a close eye on them since they can burn quickly if left unattended.

Transfer the walnuts to a cutting board to let cool and give them a rough chop.

Make the dressing. In a jar with a fitted lid, add the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, dried oregano, garlic (if using), and a generous pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Seal the jar and give it a good shake until the dressing ingredients are well combined.

Assemble the salad and serve. In a large bowl, add the arugula and sliced pear. Drizzle half of the prepared dressing on the salad and gently toss to combine.

Sprinkle to chopped toasted walnuts and shaved parmesan over the salad. Drizzle the remaining half of the dressing over everything and serve immediately. Taste best when fresh.

Substitutions and variations

Arugula substitute. If you don’t like arugula, you can use baby spinach, mixed greens, or baby kale.

Pear substitute. If you don’t like pear, you can use sliced apple (I like Honeycrisp or Gala).

Walnut substitute. If you don’t like walnuts, you can use sliced almonds, pecans, or pistachios.

Parmigiano-Reggiano substitute. If you don’t like parmesan cheese, you can use goat cheese, feta cheese, blue cheese, or gorgonzola.

Red wine vinaigrette substitute. If you don’t like red wine vinaigrette, you can use balsamic vinaigrette, Dijon vinaigrette, or lemon vinaigrette dressing.

Add some protein. This salad would taste good with grilled chicken, salmon, marinated tofu, or crispy chickpeas.

Add some extra sweetness. My husband loves adding a handful of dried cranberries to this salad.

What is the best dressing for arugula pear salad?

Red wine vinaigrette tastes great with this arugula pear salad. It’s tangy and easy to make with a handful of pantry staples.

You could also use balsamic vinaigrette dressing if you prefer something slightly sweeter.

What fruit pairs with arugula?

Crisp pears pair well with arugula because they are refreshing and sweet, which balances the spicy and peppery flavor of the arugula.

Apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines, plums, dried cranberries, oranges, and grapefruit would also pair nicely with arugula.

Is arugula salad healthy for you?

Yes, arugula is healthy for you and considered a superfood. It’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which support bone health and immune function.

Arugula is also low in calories and high in fiber, which can promote digestive health and help you feel full longer.

More arugula salad recipes to try:

• Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette
• Strawberry arugula salad
• Blueberry arugula salad

Please let me know how you like this Arugula pear salad recipe in the comments below! Your feedback and review encourages me to keep creating new and yummy recipes. I hope you love this salad as much as I do.

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