Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (2024)

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This salad is anything but boring. Filled with roasted cauliflower, aromatic fennel, crispy chickpeas, peppery arugula, fruity pears and finished with a sweet, creamy maple-cashew dressing, this will get you out of your salad rut!
Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (1)Helllllllo friends! Happy almost end of the first week of 2016!

I forgot to ask you guys on Monday if you made any resolutions for the New Year. So, did you? Do tell.

Or, maybe you are like me and avoid resolutions like they are the black plague. And, instead opt to set small (realistic) goals for yourself? Do tell me those too… I’m nosy. 😉

Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (2)Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (3)I have quite a few goals for myself this year:

Live in the moment more.

Take more time for myself. This includes taking one day off on the weekend from partaking in blog related shenanigans.

Do a little soul baking at least once a month.

Accept when things are out of my control and stress less.

Forgive more often, this includes myself.

Be more consistent and less sporadic with my workouts… but, I need to stop injuring myself first. #Clumsy

Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (4) Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (5)One thing that is not on my list is to eat healthier.

Probably something a lot of you don’t know about me, especially if you predicted my diet based on some of my blog posts (like This. This. orThis.), is I regularly eat healthy. And I’m one of those (weird?) ones who enjoys healthier food.

For example, my favorite snacks are steamed broccoli, raw baby carrots, frozen grapes and 94% fat free popcorn. My fridge is always filled with at least 2 seasonal vegetables… and one head of cauliflower. And, I occasionally eat salad for breakfast. Don’t judge. 😉Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (6) Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (7)The salad I am sharing today – Arugula Pear Salad withMaple-Cashew Cream Dressing – is one of my regular go-to’s in the colder months. And yes, I have devoured it first thing in the morning… on multiple occasions. It is just that dang delish.

This Arugula Pear Salad has a perfect contrast and balance of temperatures. It contains both warmly roasted and cool, crisp ingredients. There is also melody of textures and flavors up in here. Savory caramelized cauliflower, crunchy chickpeas, aromatic fennel, peppery arugula, sweet fruity pear and a sprinkling of zesty lemon.

But, all that jazz becomes a million times tastier with the maple-cashew cream dressing. The dressing is sweet, creamy, silky, smooth and pairs perfectly with veggie-tastic salad. It is also a breeze to whip together. Simply soak some unsalted, un-roasted cashews in water, drain and transfer to your food processor with a bit of maple syrup, almond milk and sea salt. Viola. A dressing I promise you will be dipping everything into, including your fingers.

Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (8) Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (9)Overall, this salad is light and healthy, yet substantial, hearty and filling. This is the salad that makes your boring, plain greens you pack for lunch look pathetically sad. No offense. 😉

Clean eating doesn’t have to be boring. So if your New Year, New You involves eating healthier, without sacrificing flavor, I urge you to try this Arugula Pear Salad. Who knows, after one bite you might be inclined to eat it for breakfast. (wink wink)

Until Monday, Cheers – to a fabulous weekend!

-xoxo-

Cheyanne

Table of Contents

  • Arugula Pear Salad with Maple-Cashew Dressing
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (10)

Arugula Pear Salad with Maple-Cashew Dressing

4.92 from 12 votes

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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This salad is anything but boring. Filled with roasted cauliflower, aromatic fennel, crispy chickpeas, peppery arugula, fruity pears and finished with a sweet, creamy maple-cashew dressing, this will get you out of your salad rut!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Arrange oven racks to top and bottom 1/3 positions.

  • In a large bowl toss the cauliflower and chickpeas with oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Spread out evenly among both baking sheets (be sure to use both so you don’t over crowd the pan).

  • Roast in the oven, rotating pans and tossing mixture halfway through cooking, for 25-35 minutes or until cauliflower is golden and chickpeas are crispy. Add the leeks to the pan during last 15 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, prepare the dressing: Place the drained cashews, 2 TBS of the soaking liquid and remaining dressing ingredients into the bowl of a food processor or blender. Process or blend until smooth and creamy. Add more soaking liquid, 1 TBS at a time until desired consistency is achieved.*

  • To Serve: Arrange the arugula on serving plates, top with roasted vegetables, crispy chickpeas and sliced pears. Drizzle with maple cashew dressing and garnish with lemon zest and fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

*Raw cashews = unsalted and not roasted
*To soak cashews: Place cashews in a small bowl and add enough water to cover. Soak for 5-8 hours. Drain, reserving liquid.
*I used 3 TBS cashew liquid in the dressing
*Serves: 2 as Entrée, 4 as Appetizer

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcal Carbohydrates: 25g Protein: 7g Fat: 21g Saturated Fat: 3g Sodium: 763mg Potassium: 438mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 13g Vitamin A: 1085IU Vitamin C: 7.8mg Calcium: 102mg Iron: 2.9mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Fusion

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Arugula Pear Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What flavors go well with arugula? ›

Try pairing arugula with olives, thinly sliced sardines, or prosciutto, and tossing in zesty pickled onions, beets, or radishes (which can all lend brightness both in flavor and color). Maybe toss in some roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes for a touch of sweetness to knock the bitter chip off arugula's shoulder.

What kind of pear is best for salad? ›

Best Pears to Eat Raw

All ripe pears can be enjoyed raw, either eaten out-of-hand or sliced into salads. Here's what you can expect in terms of flavor and texture from common pear varieties: Anjou Pear: A firm, mild-flavored pear that is perfectly juicy. Red and green Anjou pears are nearly identical in flavor.

What goes with pear? ›

Pears are often considered best eaten fresh and just-sliced, making them a perfect partner for wholesome, simple snacking – think sliced pears atop whole-grain toast, wrapped with prosciutto, dipped in nut butters, or partnered with blue or aged, hard cheeses.

How do you take the bitterness out of arugula? ›

Blanching: Blanching involves quickly plunging the vegetables into boiling water and then transferring them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This method can help reduce bitterness. Place the arugula or spinach in boiling water for about 10 to 20 seconds, then immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water.

Is arugula more bitter than spinach? ›

Arugula vs Spinach

Both arugula and spinach are leafy green vegetables with tender leaves and crisp stems. Spinach has a deeper green color than arugula and a milder, more vegetal taste with slight bitterness, while arugula has a more intense, peppery, spicy flavor.

How do you cut pears for pear salad? ›

After you've cut slices out of the pear, now you can cut them into cubes. With the knife, carefully cut through the pear slices in the opposite direction making sure to cut across the slices. Now, you have cubed pear! Enjoy the cubes as a small and healthy snack or serve them in a salad.

What brings out the flavor of pears? ›

Pears are wonderful eaten out of hand, but they also add elegance to tarts, pastries and other fall desserts. Poached whole in wine or transformed into compote, their flavor blends well with ginger, vanilla, orange peel, raisins and warm spices, such as clove and cinnamon.

What alcoholic drink is made from pears? ›

Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally in England, particularly Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire, parts of South Wales and France, especially Normandy and Anjou, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

What meat pairs with pears? ›

According to this principle, cured meats such as mortadella, salami, and cooked ham go well with apples, peaches, exotic fruits, citrus fruits, pineapple, pears, and kiwi. While cured meats such as prosciutto, bresaola, and speck can be paired with figs, apples, apricots, watermelon, melon, strawberries, and berries.

What herbs pair with arugula? ›

Herbs and Seasoning: basil, dill, oregano, parsley, saffron, sage, thyme.

What flavor is arugula known for? ›

Arugula Flavor

Unlike its mild salad green counterparts, arugula's flavor is described as peppery, spicy, and a bit nutty, which makes sense considering it's in the same family as mustard greens.

What is the flavor profile of arugula? ›

What Does Arugula Taste Like? With a distinct peppery flavor, arugula is known for its spicy, sharp bite. The green's flavor may vary depending on its maturity and variety. Baby arugula, for example, is a small, less mature version of arugula and is often milder in taste, whereas wild arugula has a fiercer flavor.

What is the best season for arugula? ›

Arugula grows fast. Set plants in the sunny garden in early spring for spring harvest or late summer for fall harvest. Plants prefer the cooler days of spring or fall.

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