Pear and Feta Salad Recipe With Cinnamon Vinaigrette

This Pear and Feta Salad Recipe With Cinnamon Vinaigrette is an easy-to-make dish that will lift your salad game to a whole new level. The combination of crunchy lettuce, nuts, chewy dried cherries, and smooth pears creates a satisfying mix of textures and flavors. Finished with a unique cinnamon vinaigrette, this salad is perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

• Greens- I used red butter lettuce, but you can use any greens you prefer. 
• Cucumbers
• Nuts and seeds- For my salad, I used sliced almonds and pepitas, they add the perfect crunch. You can easily swap these out for any nuts and seeds you like. 
• Dried fruit- I love dried cherries in my salad, but you could also use raisins, currants, or even chopped dried apricots. 
• Pears- I used Anjou pears, but use your favorite! 
• Feta cheese- Either crumbled or block will work. 
• Olive oil- for the dressing.
• Apple cider vinegar
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Dijon Mustard
• Honey or granulated sugar

Ingredients

• Greens- I used red butter lettuce, but you can use any greens you prefer. 
• Cucumbers
• Nuts and seeds- For my salad, I used sliced almonds and pepitas, they add the perfect crunch. You can easily swap these out for any nuts and seeds you like. 
• Dried fruit- I love dried cherries in my salad, but you could also use raisins, currants, or even chopped dried apricots. 
• Pears- I used Anjou pears, but use your favorite! 
• Feta cheese- Either crumbled or block will work. 
• Olive oil- for the dressing.
• Apple cider vinegar
• Ground cinnamon
• Salt
• Dijon Mustard
• Honey or granulated sugar

How to make

• Start by putting together your salad. I love to have layers of lettuce topped with cucumbers, nuts and seeds, dried cherries, and feta. For the bowl I used, I had 2 layers. 
• On the top layer, I add in my sliced pears. They are tucked under just slightly for a more aesthetic look. You can also cut the pears into chunks if you prefer. 
• Once the salad is assembled, it is time to make the dressing. Mix together all the ingredients. I like to do this in a mason jar. 
• Pour it over the salad and serve immediately

Best pears for salads

For salads, you want pears that are firm yet ripe, offering a good balance of sweetness and crispness. Here are some of the best varieties:

1. Bartlett Pears: Sweet and juicy, these pears are great for adding a burst of flavor to salads.
2. Anjou Pears: Both Red and Green Anjou pears are firm, juicy, and have a subtle sweetness, making them perfect for salads. I used green Anjou pears for this my salad.
3. Bosc Pears: With a crunchy texture and honey-like flavor, Bosc pears hold up well in salads.
4. Comice Pears: Known for their sweetness and juicy texture, Comice pears add a rich flavor to salads.
5. Asian Pears: Crisp and crunchy with a mild sweetness, Asian pears are excellent for adding texture to salads.

How to choose pears at the grocery store

• Look for smooth, unblemished skin
• Avoid bruises, cuts, dark spots
• Slight yield near stem = ripe
• Very soft = overripe
• Hard = needs ripening
• Bartlett: green to yellow when ripe
• Anjou, Bosc, Comice: minimal color change
• Sweet, fragrant aroma near stem = ripe
• Choose pears with intact stems baking
• Ripen in paper bag at room temperature; add apple or banana to speed up

• Salads