Arugula and Pear Bowl (Printable)

Peppery arugula meets sweet pears, creamy cheese, and crunchy nuts in a simple balsamic dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Greens

01 - 4 cups fresh arugula

→ Fruit

02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced

→ Cheese

03 - 2 oz crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese

→ Nuts

04 - ½ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped

→ Dressing

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon honey
08 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
02 - Place arugula in a large salad bowl. Add sliced pears, crumbled cheese, and toasted nuts.
03 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving.
04 - Gently toss to combine all ingredients and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes with zero cooking, making it perfect for when you're pressed for time but refuse to eat something boring.
  • The flavors feel fancy enough to impress guests but honest enough to eat alone on a quiet evening.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free without feeling like a compromise on taste.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad until the moment you're about to eat it; even 10 minutes will soften the arugula and make it wilt like it's been abandoned.
  • The dressing needs sweetness to balance the peppery greens—if you skip the honey or go light on it, the salad tastes harsh instead of harmonious.
03 -
  • Taste the pears before adding them to your salad—if they're not sweet enough, a tiny pinch of honey in the dressing helps compensate without making everything cloying.
  • Keep your salad bowl and ingredients cool if possible; a cold bowl makes the greens stay fresher longer and the whole experience more refreshing.
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