Description
This elegant Pear and Rocket Salad with Parmesan and Walnuts is a gourmet-inspired dish that balances sweet, salty, and peppery flavors. It features crisp pears, peppery rocket leaves, rich shaved Parmesan, and crunchy toasted walnuts. It’s a sophisticated yet simple salad that comes together in under 15 minutes, perfect for dinner parties, light lunches, or as a classy side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe pears (Bartlett or Williams), thinly sliced
- 4 cups (120g) rocket leaves (arugula)
- 50g Parmesan cheese, shaved
- ½ cup (50g) walnuts, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry your pears. Slice them thinly, lengthwise, leaving the skin on for added color and fiber. Make sure they are ripe but not mushy.
- Add the walnuts to a dry skillet and toast over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant. This enhances their flavor and gives them a delightful crunch. Set aside to cool.
- Place the rocket leaves on a large serving plate or shallow bowl to form the base of the salad.
- Artfully layer the pear slices over the rocket leaves. Try fanning them for a beautiful visual effect.
- Shave fresh Parmesan cheese over the salad using a peeler or mandolin. Then sprinkle the toasted walnuts evenly across the top.
- Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Season with a pinch of sea salt and cracked pepper to taste.
Notes
- Use firm, ripe pears like Bartlett or Bosc for the best balance of sweetness and texture.
- Toast walnuts just until fragrant to bring out their natural flavor.
- Assemble just before serving to keep the rocket crisp and fresh.
- For a vegan version, replace Parmesan with nutritional yeast or plant-based cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salads, Appetizers, Side Dishes
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
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