Avocado and Pear Salad with Balsamic Dressing
This avocado and pear salad with balsamic dressing is fresh, colorful, and easy to prepare. It combines creamy avocado, sweet pears, mixed leaves, Roquefort, toasted hazelnuts, and pomegranate seeds for a simple pear avocado salad that works as a starter, light lunch, or side dish.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 large avocado sliced
- 2 pears sliced
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- 100 g mixed leaf salad
- 50 g pomegranate seeds
- 50 g toasted hazelnuts
- 50 g Roquefort or blue cheese crumbled
For the 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 3½ cups (100 g) mixed leaf salad and place it in a large serving bowl.
- Slice 1 large avocado and 2 pears, then arrange them over the salad leaves.
- Add ½ thinly sliced red onion, ⅓ cup (50 g) pomegranate seeds, ⅓ cup (50 g) toasted hazelnuts, and ⅓ cup (50 g) crumbled Roquefort or blue cheese.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon white pepper until smooth.
- Drizzle the dressing over the avocado and pear salad just before serving and gently toss to combine, or serve the dressing on the side.
Notes
Use Firm Pears: I like using pears that are ripe but still slightly firm because they hold their shape and do not become too soft in the salad.
Toast the Hazelnuts: Toasting the hazelnuts for a few minutes makes a big difference. It brings out their flavor and gives the salad a better crunch.
Dress Just Before Serving: I always add the balsamic dressing right before serving so the mixed leaves stay fresh and crisp.
Prepare Ahead Carefully: If I make this ahead, I keep the dressing separate and slice the avocado at the last minute so it stays green and fresh.
Store Leftovers Gently: I store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day, but the avocado will soften slightly.
Nutrition
Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 545mg | Potassium: 555mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 2081IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 2mg
