Elevate your salad game with this vibrant Pear and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese Vinaigrette—a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors. Crisp baby spinach serves as the base for this irresistible combination of juicy, ripe pear slices, toasted walnuts, and chewy dried cranberries, all topped with creamy crumbled goat cheese. The star of the dish is the homemade goat cheese vinaigrette, a velvety blend of olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey, bringing everything together in a harmonious burst of flavor. Ready in just 20 minutes, this quick and elegant salad is ideal for a refreshing lunch, a sophisticated dinner side, or even a holiday gathering centerpiece.
Toast the walnuts: Place the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally for 3-5 minutes, until they’re lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from heat and let them cool.
Wash and dry the baby spinach thoroughly, and place it in a large salad bowl.
Core the pears and slice them thinly. Add them to the salad bowl with the spinach.
Add the toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and crumbled goat cheese to the salad.
Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
Drizzle the goat cheese vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Calories |
2107 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 160.2 g | 205% | |
| Saturated Fat | 32.4 g | 162% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 61.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 65 mg | 22% | |
| Sodium | 1992 mg | 87% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 136.6 g | 50% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 29.4 g | 105% | |
| Total Sugars | 90.0 g | ||
| Protein | 44.0 g | 88% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 492 mg | 38% | |
| Iron | 11.3 mg | 63% | |
| Potassium | 1038 mg | 22% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.