This easy Pear Pomegranate Salad with sweet glazed pecans and tangy feta is tossed in a maple vinaigrette for a delicious mix of texture and flavor. It’s a gorgeous holiday salad that feels special but takes just minutes to assemble.
I’ve been on a fall and winter salad kick this year. Pretty seasonal ingredients layered over a bed of greens like this Pear Pomegranate Salad or my Roasted Delicata Squash Salad make any menu feel special.
This simple but elegant salad is the perfect subject for my Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, which really drives home the holiday feel. It’s a fresh and easy side dish that you can pull together quickly. Gorgeous on the table and absolutely delicious!
The ingredient list is short, but each one complements the others to create and a side dish salad worthy of any Thanksgiving or Christmas menu.
Table of contents
Ingredient Notes
- Mixed baby greens: Tender greens make a great base and pair well with the sweet and tangy toppings.
- Red onion: Slice it very thinly for a mild bite and pretty color.
- Pears: Use ripe but firm pears so they slice cleanly and hold their shape on the salad. Bosc, Bartlett, and Anjou are the best choices for salads, and each brings a slightly different flavor and color. Choose whatever looks best at the store, but avoid pears that are overly soft or bruised since they won’t slice neatly.
- Bosc stay very firm and have a honey-sweet flavor.
- Bartlett are juicy with classic pear flavor and come in green, golden yellow, or red.
- Anjou (the variety shown in the photos) have a mild sweetness and smooth skin, and their green-to-yellow color looks especially pretty against the greens. You might also find them with red skin.
- Pomegranate arils: You can find them packaged in most stores at this time of year which sav
- Glazed pecans: Bring sweetness and crunch. Toasted pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds work too.
- Feta cheese: Adds a creamy, tangy contrast to the sweet fruit.
- Vinaigrette: My Maple Dijon Vinaigrette is my favorite new fall/winter salad dressing. It ties all the flavors of this salad together perfectly with sweet, warm maple notes.
How to Make Pear Pomegranate Salad
- Build the base. Spread the greens on a large platter (or in a wide salad bowl) and scatter the sliced red onion over the top.
- Finish the salad. Add the pears, pomegranate arils, glazed pecans and feta, then drizzle lightly with the Maple Dijon Vinaigrette. Serve the rest on the side.
Tips for the Best Pear Pomegranate Salad
Slice the pears just before serving. Or toss them with a little vinaigrette to help prevent browning.
Dry the greens well. This helps the vinaigrette cling instead of sliding off.
Dress lightly. Start with a small amount and serve the rest on the side for guests to add to their serving.
Use a shallow platter for the prettiest presentation. Spreading the ingredients out shows off all the color and texture.
Make it a meal. Add grilled or rotisserie chicken or roasted salmon to turn this salad into a fresh, satisfying meal any night of the week.
Make-Ahead Tips
- Prep the components ahead. Wash and dry the greens and slice the onion up to a day in advance.
- Make the glazed pecans in advance. If using my glazed pecans recipe, they can be prepared several days ahead and stored in an airtight container.
- Make the vinaigrette in advance. It keeps well for several days in the fridge.
- Assemble just before serving. Add the pears and vinaigrette at the last minute so the greens stay crisp.
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Pear Pomegranate Salad
Ingredients
- 5 ounces mixed baby greens
- ¾ cup thinly sliced red onion, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 to 2 ripe pears, unpeeled, cored and thinly sliced
- ½ cup Pomegranate arils
- ½ cup glazed pecans, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta
- 1 recipe Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Place the greens in a large, shallow bowl or on a salad platter. Sprinkle the red onion over the top, then arrange the pear slices in groups of 3 or 4 slices. Sprinkle the pomegranate arils, glazed pecans and crumbled feta evenly over the salad.
- Drizzle with some of the Maple Vinaigrette. Serve with the remaining vinaigrette on the side.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
More Pretty Holiday Salads
Very nice salad….before or even as a meal.