Pear & Cranberry Spinach Salad

This Pear & Cranberry Spinach Salad is a great starter to any Fall gathering or to your Thanksgiving Day Dinner. It’s both festive and delicious!

Today we are diving into the wonderful world of salads! We are excited to share a delightful recipe with you: the Pear & Cranberry Spinach Salad that is perfect for any Fall or Thanksgiving Day gathering. This vibrant dish combines the freshness of spinach, the sweetness of pears, the tartness of cranberries, the crunch of walnuts, and the creamy richness of blue cheese. It’s a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds while nourishing your body. But before we get into the specifics of how to make this salad, let’s gather our ingredients…

Pear & Cranberry Spinach Salad-Ingredients

• 1 package fresh baby spinach
• 2 medium pears (Bartlett, Bosc)
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup blue cheese or Gorgonzola (crumbles)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or craisins

Dressing

• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Preparing the Spinach

If your spinach has not been washed, start by washing your fresh spinach thoroughly. Rinse under running water until clean. To avoid a soggy salad, make sure to dry the spinach completely using a salad spinner or by patting them with a clean kitchen towel.

Preparing the Pears and Cranberries

Select ripe pears, remove the seeds and core and dice. If fresh cranberries are in season, they can be used; otherwise, dried cranberries or craisins work well. Ensure that your cranberries are plump and juicy.

Adding the Crunch: Walnuts

To enhance the nutty flavor of the salad, throw some walnuts into the mix! Gently chop the walnuts if pieces are large.

Creamy Blue Cheese

Blue cheese or Gorgonzola adds a delightful creaminess and a hint of tanginess to the salad. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, you can substitute it with a milder cheese like feta or goat cheese.

Assembling the Salad

Now, let’s put it all together:

1. In a large salad bowl, add baby spinach.
2. Scatter the pears, dried cranberries, and walnuts over the spinach.
3. Add the blue cheese crumbles evenly on top.
4. Mix up the dressing by adding all the ingredients to a salad cruet and shake well.
5. Pour dressing evenly over the top and gently toss everything together to combine the flavors and textures.
6. Divide salad evenly among plates.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Why You Should Make this Pear & Cranberry Spinach Salad

• This salad is tasty, delicious and nutritious! Spinach is packed with many vitamins and minerals. Plus it hits all the food groups. Vegetables, fruits, carbs, protein and fats.
• Perfect salad for the Fall! This salad is great for any Fall gathering and it’s a perfect starter to your Thanksgiving Day Dinner.
• Easy to whip up! Only takes a few minutes to put together!

Add your own twist, experiment with different variations

• Add some grilled proteins: add your favorite protein like grilled chicken or steak to this salad and eat this dish for your main course.
• Experiment with different cheeses: don’t like blue cheese? Try substituting it for goat, feta, brie, gouda, Gruyère, Havarti, or Manchego. Experiment and see what one you like best!
• Toss in other nuts: if you’re not a fan of walnuts try adding pecans, almonds, cashews, etc. The possibilities are endless.
• Other mix-ins: if you don’t like nuts but like that crunchy texture, add some chow mien noodles, sesame seeds, or crispy fried onions to the mix.

It’s your turn to try this Pear & Cranberry Spinach Salad

There you have it—our Pear & Cranberry Spinach Salad is a true masterpiece of flavors and textures. It’s not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. This salad is a perfect side dish for a those Fall gatherings and makes a great starter for your upcoming Thanksgiving Day Dinner.

Experiment with your own variations, perhaps adding grilled chicken or avocado slices for an extra twist. The possibilities are endless, and we hope you enjoy creating and savoring this vibrant salad as much as we do. Stay tuned for more delicious recipes coming your way! And remember…

Life’s too short to eat bad food!

For other delicious salads try:

Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Raisins

Panzanella (Bread Salad)

Pear and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Walnuts

Simple Red, White & Blue Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Tomato and Cucumber Salad