Arugula and Pear Bowl (Printable Version)

Peppery arugula meets sweet pears, creamy cheese, and crunchy walnuts in this refreshing bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Greens

01 - 4 cups fresh arugula

→ Fruit

02 - 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced

→ Cheese

03 - 2 oz crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese

→ Nuts

04 - ½ cup toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped

→ Dressing

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon honey
08 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-to Steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
02 - Place arugula in a large salad bowl. Add sliced pears, crumbled cheese, and toasted nuts.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving.
04 - Gently toss all ingredients to combine and serve immediately while greens are fresh and crisp.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 15 minutes flat, which means you can actually enjoy your lunch instead of spending the afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The peppery bite of arugula and the honeyed sweetness of pears create this unexpected harmony that keeps you reaching for another forkful.
  • It feels elegant enough to serve guests but honest enough to eat alone on a Tuesday without pretense.
02 -
  • Never dress the salad too far in advance—arugula wilts faster than you'd expect, and those delicate leaves will turn dark and sad within minutes of meeting the vinegar.
  • Slice your pears right before assembling; they oxidize and brown if they sit around, which looks less like rustic charm and more like you forgot about them.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts if you can—it takes five minutes and transforms the entire salad from good to genuinely memorable.
  • Make the dressing in the bowl you'll serve from so you save yourself a dish and the flavors get a moment to sit together before the salad arrives.
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