Description
Magical winter salad with pears and pecans blends sweet and savory flavors from seasonal ingredients. Crisp greens, caramelized pecans, and juicy pears create an elegant dish you’ll crave during cold months.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup pecans, toasted
- 2 pears, ripe, thinly sliced
- 4 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, kale)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions
- Meticulously rinse and pat dry mixed greens until completely moisture-free, ensuring crisp texture.
- Delicately slice pears into elegant, translucent rounds using a sharp knife, preserving their pristine appearance.
- Carefully heat a dry skillet over medium flame, gently roasting pecans for approximately 5 minutes until they release a rich, nutty aroma and develop a golden-brown hue.
- Transfer mixed greens to a spacious serving vessel, artfully layering sliced pears, fragrant toasted pecans, vibrant dried cranberries, and thinly shaved red onion for a harmonious blend of colors and textures.
- Moments before presenting the salad, gracefully drizzle balsamic vinaigrette across the surface, then tenderly toss ingredients to ensure each component is lightly coated with the tangy dressing.
Notes
- Toast pecans low and slow to prevent burning, releasing their rich, nutty flavor without bitterness.
- Choose firm, slightly underripe pears for better texture and less browning in the salad.
- Soak sliced red onions in cold water for 10 minutes to reduce sharp, raw flavor and make them more palatable.
- Prepare vinaigrette separately and store in the refrigerator to let flavors meld together before dressing the salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg