This avocado and pear salad with balsamic dressing is a Mediterranean-inspired salad that's fresh, colorful, and easy to make. It works beautifully as a light lunch, starter, or side dish for any meal.
Simple Pear Avocado Salad (Perfect Side Dish)
In Mediterranean families, salad has always been part of everyday meals, sometimes just fresh greens with extra virgin olive oil, other times a colorful mix of whatever was on hand. My mom never used recipes, and that's how this easy avocado pear salad came about: ripe avocado, juicy pear, Roquefort cheese, a quick balsamic dressing, and toasted hazelnuts.
This is one of my favorite healthy avocado pear salad recipes. I make my own balsamic dressing for salads with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, and honey. It's simple and full of flavor. I love serving this avocado and pear salad because it looks beautiful and tastes fresh. Sometimes I add grilled chicken to make it a full meal, but even on its own, this pear avocado salad is perfect with simple ingredients and big flavor.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy to Make: It comes together in minutes, with just some slicing and a simple dressing.
- Easily Customize this Salad: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or quinoa for protein, or switch up the nuts. Adjust the dressing to taste, whether you prefer it sweeter or tangier.
- Inspired by Tradition: It brings the warmth of Mediterranean home cooking to your table.
Ingredients
You'll find the exact measurements in the recipe card, but here's a closer look at a few of the ingredients and why I use them.
For Salad:
- Avocado & Pears: I love pairing creamy ripe avocado with sweet, slightly firm pears, they balance each other perfectly with richness and freshness.
- Greens & Onion: A base of tender mixed leaves with a few thin slices of red onion adds both crispness and just the right sharp bite.
- Pomegranate & Hazelnuts: I always scatter juicy pomegranate seeds and toasted hazelnuts for color, crunch, and a little surprise in every bite.
- Cheese Finish: Crumbly Roquefort (blue cheese) ties the salad together with bold flavor, though goat cheese works beautifully when I want something milder.
For Balsamic Dressing:
- Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar: I always start with good-quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar; the richness, sweetness, and acidity balance the pears and cheese beautifully.
- Mustard, Honey & Seasoning: A little Dijon mustard for zing, honey for softness, and just enough salt and white pepper to round it out into a smooth, flavorful dressing.
How to Make Avocado and Pear Salad
You can find the complete printable recipe with measurements below, but for now, here's a quick overview of how it goes:
1. Wash and dry the mixed leaves, then put them in a large bowl.
2. Halve, pit, and peel the avocados. Slice them thinly and lay them over the salad leaves.
3. Halve, core, and thinly slice the pears, then place them on the greens.
4. Add the sliced red onion and pomegranate seeds.
5. Add hazelnuts and crumbled blue cheese.
6. In a small bottle, shake extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until smooth.
7. Pour the dressing over the avocado pear salad before serving.
8. Gently toss to coat, or serve the dressing on the side.
Variations
- Grilled Chicken or Turkey: Add slices of grilled chicken or turkey for a more filling, protein-packed option.
- Seafood Twist: Try grilled shrimp, seared scallops, or smoked salmon for an elegant touch.
- Switch Up the Nuts: Use toasted walnuts, almonds, or pecans for a different flavor and crunch.
- Gentler Cheese: Swap Roquefort (blue cheese) for crumbled feta or goat cheese if you prefer a milder, creamier taste.
What to Serve with Avocado Pear Salad
This pear avocado salad is so versatile! It works perfectly as a side, starter, or even a light main course. It's also amazing alongside cast-iron chicken breast or pork chops for a well-rounded meal.
My Tips for Recipe Success
Keep the Avocado from Browning: If you're prepping ahead, brush the avocado slices with a little lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.
Use a Mandolin for Uniform Pear Slices: When I want the pears extra thin and even, I use a mandolin; it makes every slice delicate and pretty.
Shake the Dressing in a Jar: Instead of whisking, I often just shake the dressing in a small jar with a lid. It blends quickly, and you can store leftovers easily.
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Recipe
Avocado and Pear Salad with Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
For Salad:
- 1 Large Ripe Avocado - Sliced
- 2 Pears - Sliced
- ½ Red Onion - Sliced
- 100 g Mixed Leaf Salad
- 50 g Pomegranate Seeds
- 50 g Hazelnuts
- 50 g Roquefort - Blue Cheese
For Balsamic Dressing:
- 3 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon White Pepper
Instructions
- Wash and dry the mixed leaf salad, then place it in a large serving bowl.
- Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits and peel, then slice them thinly. Arrange over the greens.
- Halve and core the pears, then slice them thinly. Add them to the bowl with the salad.
- Add the thinly sliced red onion, pomegranate seeds, toasted hazelnuts, and crumbled Roquefort (blue cheese) on top.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and white pepper until the mixture is smooth and emulsified. Drizzle the balsamic dressing over the salad just before serving and gently toss to coat evenly, or serve the dressing on the side so everyone can add as much as they like.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
This avocado toast recipe is a game-changer! The combination of creamy avocado and sweet pear is unexpectedly delicious.