Cranberry Pear Salad with Fresh Pear Vinaigrette
Cranberry Pear Salad with Fresh Pear Vinaigrette is the best pear salad with crisp romaine, juicy pear, tart cranberries and feta tossed in a pear dressing!
**This post was originally published in September 2012, and contains updated photos, text and recipe.
Do you have that special salad that you turn to time and time again for entertaining, holidays, and what not because people just flip out over it? And when I mean flip out, I mean they request that salad and if they don’t get it, you may not be forgiven?
I’m being a bit extreme, but this pear salad is and has been that salad for my family for a good 15 solid years. This salad was actually the first recipe I posted here two years ago because I couldn’t think of a better way to start things off.
This cranberry pear salad has a history. I first tasted one similar to this at my old roommate’s birthday party, and it blew me (and everyone else) away.
It was when the fruit, nut and cheese salad thing was taking off big time, and I asked the woman that made it what on earth was in it that made it so special. I found out, and I created my own recipe inspired by those ingredients.
The original salad was made with Paul Newman’s Caesar dressing, and you can certainly use that if you want to keep it simple. I worked hard to make a homemade pear dressing that did this salad justice, however, and this is how I made this salad my own.
Creating my own pear salad recipe that did the original recipe justice was a big deal to me. This salad shows up on the Thanksgiving table, as well as Christmas and sometimes Easter. Birthdays, family dinners, whatever…this salad is tradition!
I tried it with homemade Caesar dressing….nope. I tried it with a few other variations and it still wasn’t the same.
This week I tried making a vinaigrette out of fresh pear, and I knew immediately that this dressing was it.
This dressing tastes even better than it looks, and you may just want to grab a straw and drink it.
I refuse to admit if I did that or not. 🙂
If there’s one salad that you want to serve for Thanksgiving, this pear cranberry salad is it! And then make it any other time that you want a special salad.
You want this…I promise….and don’t be surprised if it becomes an instant tradition for your family, too. 🙂
More salad recipes you’ll love:
Kale Salad with Goat Cheese, Cranberries and Orange
Cranberry Pear Salad with Fresh Pear Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1 cup peeled and cored fresh pear diced (about 1 large pear)
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
For the salad:
- 6 ounces Romaine lettuce or two hearts of Romaine cleaned and chopped
- 1 large ripe Bartlett pear cored and sliced into 1" pieces
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped or slivered almonds toasted*
Instructions
Prepare the dressing:
- Place the pear chunks, vinegar, dijon, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a steady stream through the feed chute until emulsified. Add the salt and pepper, to taste and mix once more.
Prepare the salad:
- Place the romaine, sliced pear, dried cranberries, feta and toasted almonds. Add the desired amount of dressing and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Total time above does not reflect the time to toast the almonds. To toast them, place them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until fragrant. You can save time by purchasing pre-toasted slivered almonds at Trader Joe's!
- Dressing can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 1 week. Note that it will discolor over time.
- Nutrition information includes all of the dressing, though you will not need it all.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
52 Comments on “Cranberry Pear Salad with Fresh Pear Vinaigrette”
This dressing sounds really good! However, I just have a really small food processor… one that doesn’t even have a food chute and the machine doesn’t work unless the lid is locked in place. Do you have any suggestions for incorporating the oil without being able to slowly drizzle it in? Thank you!
Hi, Kelly! I would puree everything in the food processor, than pour the ingredients in a bowl and add the olive oil in a steady stream while whisking constantly — that would work just as well! 🙂
This salad looks gorgeous, Marcie! I love the cranberry and pear combination. So perfect for this time of year. And that vinaigrette sounds incredible! I love using white balsamic vinegar, it definitely gives things such a unique flavor!
Thank you, Gayle! The white balsamic really did give this dressing a lot of flavor — it’s one of my favorites! 🙂
Girl after my own heart! We are twinsies this week with the pear holiday salads! This looks delicious and I want a big bowl right now!
We are big food twins this week, Liz! haha Pear salads are where it’s at! 🙂
I love this salad so so so much! I’m hopefully trying it this weekend. I love that it was your first post! We always share our very favorites right at the beginning, right?! Love the freshness and fall flavors in this, Marcie!
Thank you, Jen! And yes, I shared so many of my favorite recipes in the beginning and they look so hideous nobody knows about them. haha I see a lot of photo re-do’s in my future. 🙂
I’d luv to eat this salad and my hubs howie too. We don’t normally eat too healthy, but this would be a great start to doing that. ty
This would be a great start, Susan, and it’s so good that you won’t believe it’s healthy! 🙂
Yum! I’ve never had pear vinaigrette. This salad would make a beautiful addition to any holiday table! Very nice!
This pear vinaigrette was a first for me, too, and I’m hooked! Thank you, Annie, and have a great weekend! 🙂
Pick me plz!!!;) Love love the blog
The salad looks delicious! ! Perfect for a seasonal started or thanksgiving table!! Xoxo
Thank you, Rebecca, and good luck in the giveaway! 🙂
this is a very fresh and beautiful looking salad Marcie! Pinned.
Thank you, Manali! 🙂
My kind of salad. I have never noticed white balsamic vinegar, is it easy to find? I guess I should pay more attention when shopping, I just always pick my fav balsamic vinegar.
Hi, Pamela! White balsamic is easy to find in the salad dressing isle. You could also use white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar as well!
What a great fresh salad that feels like Fall! I always think it’s hard to create a salad that isn’t Summer inspired, but you totally win with this! Perfect for a salad for Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Pamela — that’s so kind of you to say! I’ve made this for Thanksgiving for so long and we never get tired of it. 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!
This is such a pretty salad, Marcie! I love how fresh everything looks and that pear vinaigrette sounds so amazing! Perfect for fall!
Thank you, Kelly! The pear vinaigrette exceeded my expectations completely. 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!
Marcie, this is a beautiful salad! Thank you so much for joining us in the giveaway celebration, for your kind words and friendship! Hugs!
Thank you, Cindy, and hugs right back to you! Have a fantastic weekend and enjoy your anniversary! 🙂
Yes I think a pear vinaigrette is a perfect pairing (pun intended…nerd alert!)! This salad sounds perfect as a side for a warm bowl of soup!
Love the pun…guess that makes me a nerd, too? 🙂 Thanks, Lindsey, and hope you’re having a great weekend!
This sald looks so delicious and that dressing, I might seriously drink that as a smoothie!! Thanks for hosting this awesome giveaway!
Thank you, Ami, and good luck in the giveaway! 🙂
What a gorgeous looking salad Marcie! I would love to make this a tradition in my house! Pinned!
Thanks, Kristi, and I appreciate the pin! Happy Sunday! 🙂
Love this salad Marcie, the dressing sounds amazing!
Thank you, Cheri! I was eating that dressing by the spoonful!
Fruit and Nut salads are my favorite. I can’t wait to try your homemade dressing. The ingredients sound fabulous!
Thank you, Christin! 🙂
That dressing sounds absolutely amazing, and I love everything you put in this salad! The cranberry and pear combination sounds delicious.
Thank you, Rachel! 🙂
This is such a perfect salad for the holidays! I’m in charge of the salad course this year, and I must serve this!
I’ve totally never had pear dressing before… and now I’m wondering why the heck not?!?! It’s such a great idea! LOVE pears! Great idea Marcie!
I saw pear vinaigrette on a restaurant menu — didn’t have the salad, but I made a mental note to get making that dressing! haha Thanks, Chris! 🙂
Wow, the pear dressing really sounds amazing. Ripe pears are one of my favorite fall treats. This is such a perfect seasonal salad!
Pears have always been a favorite of mine, and I can’t believe I never thought to make a dressing out of them! Thanks, Jess! 🙂
Pear vinaigrette!? That sounds amazing, Marcie! The perfect salad for fall!
The dressing is totally drink-able! 🙂
Mmmmmm, what is it about pears and cranberries? And that fresh pear vinaigrette….my mouth is watering.
The pear-cranberry thing is real! Thanks, Rachael! 🙂
Just made this pear vinaigrette and it latest AMAZING! Thanks for the recipe! I am looking forward to all my spring salads!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the dressing, Jena –it’s one of my favorites! I really appreciate the feedback! 🙂
I agree, the salad sounds/looks amazing….but all these reviews and NO ONE has posted a review after actually making it. Those reviews would be far more helpful than just tossing compliments back and for. I’ve made it for my family today- I tasted the dressing to ensure s&p levels were correct…I think the olive oil is too heavy. I plan to try and make it again with a lighter oil.
Unfortunately I have no control over the feedback on my recipes. I appreciate your taking the time to leave yours!
As a pear lover, I’ve got to try this! I’m wondering how long does the pear dressing last in the frig? Does it darker with time? This is partly to gauge how far in advance one can prep things. Thanks.
The dressing does darken with time — normally I use it within 3 days.