Winter Pear Salad Recipe | Damn Delicious (2024)

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Winter Pear Salad Ingredients Instructions Notes Did you make this recipe? Post navigation Want to Save this Recipe for Later? Leave a Reply 15 comments Karen Rohloff — January 2, 2024 @ 1:27 PM Reply My husband & I both enjoyed this salad. The marinaded chicken was very juicy. I did not drain any extra liquid before cooking it. Make sure you really massage the kale. It really needs about 10 minutes of massaging. Also, I made 3 times the amount of dressing. Jason — February 25, 2021 @ 8:30 AM Reply Absolutely delicious! Had to substitute craisins for pomegranate, and candied pecans for the walnuts, but otherwise made it as shown. Thanks! Mer — January 18, 2021 @ 4:09 PM Reply My whole family loves this salad!! I am not a blue cheese fan, so we used feta, but it was great! Donna — February 27, 2020 @ 12:44 PM Reply What’s the calorie count for this dish? Anyone know? Jana @ Damn Delicious — February 27, 2020 @ 1:05 PM Reply Hi Donna! Nutritional information is provided only for select recipes at this time. However, if it is not available for a specific recipe, we recommend using free online resources at your discretion (you can Google “nutritional calculator”). Hope that helps! Patty McMahon — January 11, 2020 @ 2:17 PM Reply That. Looks “Damn Delicious”!!Lip smackin’ Goodness. Taylor — January 10, 2020 @ 8:24 AM Reply This was fabulous. Such a great combination of flavors. Thank you so much for posting this! Kerenza — January 9, 2020 @ 11:12 PM Reply Look good! I will try your recipe soon for my next holiday. Heidi — January 5, 2020 @ 3:52 PM Reply Loved this salad! Was so tasty and filling and just the healthy but fun meal I needed! I’m curious do you know the nutrition information for this? Patti Kolcun — January 5, 2020 @ 1:15 PM Reply I just made your Winter pear salad, it was amazing!!!My husband said it was the best salad he ever ate. Thank you for this recipe Christine — January 4, 2020 @ 6:41 PM Reply Haven’t made it yet, but the picture alone is worth 5 stars! Just curious…it looks like chicken breast (not chicken thighs). Does this change anything in the directions? I’d rather use chicken breast anyway.Thanks for the inspiration! Darlene — January 3, 2020 @ 9:36 PM Reply This salad is so beautiful! I want to make it!! Can you suggest another cheese toadd, my husband doesn’t eat blue cheese. (I love it, but he won’t touch it). I love all your recipes! The Best!! Happy New Year!! Sarah — January 4, 2020 @ 5:14 PM Reply Crumbly feta would work. A few slices of brie Or camembert would be indulgent too. Or just give yourself the luxury of blue cheese and him none 😉 Cecilia — January 3, 2020 @ 1:43 PM Reply Can you recommend another dressing for this amazing salad? I am not a fan of dijon. Sarah — January 4, 2020 @ 5:12 PM Reply I’d use another mustard then. Or even good mayo if you like creaminess. Or just leave it out – a honey vinegarette is good! FAQs

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So hearty with so many feel-good ingredients! Lemon rosemary chicken, brussels sprouts, pear and a honey dijon dressing!

Winter Pear Salad Recipe | Damn Delicious (1)

Anyone else still rolling from the holidays? I feel like I have gained 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas with all the stuffing, cream pies, and corgi sugar cookies I have been stuffing down my gullet the last month.

It’s been absolutely glorious. I still have some leftover corgi sugar cookies hoarded away in my purse. SHHHHHH.

Winter Pear Salad Recipe | Damn Delicious (2)

But I also need all my veggies now, and then some to make up for the holidays, and this salad makes it almost too easy to get in all my nutrients.

With massaged kale, brussels sprouts, pear, pomegranate, and the juiciest marinated lemon rosemary chicken thighs, I can eat this for the entire month of January. The candied walnuts, crumbled blue cheese and honey Dijon dressing also help tremendously.

Winter Pear Salad Recipe | Damn Delicious (3)

Winter Pear Salad

Yield: 4 - 6 servings

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 40 minutes minutes

Winter Pear Salad Recipe | Damn Delicious (4)

So hearty with so many feel-good ingredients! Lemon rosemary chicken, brussels sprouts, pear and a honey dijon dressing!

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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 6 cups shredded kale
  • 3 cups shredded brussels sprouts
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 bosc pear, sliced
  • 3 clementines, peeled and segmented
  • ½ cup pomegranate arils
  • ¾ cup candied walnuts
  • ½ cup crumbled blue cheese

Instructions

  • In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken, 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper; marinate for at least 2 hours to overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.

  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat.* Working in batches, add chicken to the grill pan in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 4-5 minutes per side.

  • In a large bowl, combine kale, brussels sprouts and green onions; drizzle with remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, vinegar, honey and Dijon. Massage until the kale starts to soften and wilt, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Top with pear, clementines, pomegranate, walnuts and blue cheese.

  • Serve immediately.

Notes

*If you do not have a cast iron grill pan, you can also use a large cast iron skillet.

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Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious!

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posted on January 2, 2020under chicken, salad
15 CommentsLeave a Comment »

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15 comments
  1. Karen Rohloff January 2, 2024 @ 1:27 PM Reply

    My husband & I both enjoyed this salad. The marinaded chicken was very juicy. I did not drain any extra liquid before cooking it. Make sure you really massage the kale. It really needs about 10 minutes of massaging. Also, I made 3 times the amount of dressing.

  2. Jason February 25, 2021 @ 8:30 AM Reply

    Absolutely delicious! Had to substitute craisins for pomegranate, and candied pecans for the walnuts, but otherwise made it as shown. Thanks!

  3. Mer January 18, 2021 @ 4:09 PM Reply

    My whole family loves this salad!! I am not a blue cheese fan, so we used feta, but it was great!

  4. Donna February 27, 2020 @ 12:44 PM Reply

    What’s the calorie count for this dish? Anyone know?

    • Jana @ Damn Delicious February 27, 2020 @ 1:05 PM Reply

      Hi Donna! Nutritional information is provided only for select recipes at this time. However, if it is not available for a specific recipe, we recommend using free online resources at your discretion (you can Google “nutritional calculator”). Hope that helps!

  5. Patty McMahon January 11, 2020 @ 2:17 PM Reply

    That. Looks “Damn Delicious”!!
    Lip smackin’ Goodness.

  6. Taylor January 10, 2020 @ 8:24 AM Reply

    This was fabulous. Such a great combination of flavors. Thank you so much for posting this!

  7. Kerenza January 9, 2020 @ 11:12 PM Reply

    Look good! I will try your recipe soon for my next holiday.

  8. Heidi January 5, 2020 @ 3:52 PM Reply

    Loved this salad! Was so tasty and filling and just the healthy but fun meal I needed! I’m curious do you know the nutrition information for this?

  9. Patti Kolcun January 5, 2020 @ 1:15 PM Reply

    I just made your Winter pear salad, it was amazing!!!
    My husband said it was the best salad he ever ate. Thank you for this recipe

  10. Christine January 4, 2020 @ 6:41 PM Reply

    Haven’t made it yet, but the picture alone is worth 5 stars! Just curious…it looks like chicken breast (not chicken thighs). Does this change anything in the directions? I’d rather use chicken breast anyway.
    Thanks for the inspiration!

  11. Darlene January 3, 2020 @ 9:36 PM Reply

    This salad is so beautiful! I want to make it!! Can you suggest another cheese to
    add, my husband doesn’t eat blue cheese. (I love it, but he won’t touch it). I love all your recipes! The Best!! Happy New Year!!

    • Sarah January 4, 2020 @ 5:14 PM Reply

      Crumbly feta would work. A few slices of brie Or camembert would be indulgent too. Or just give yourself the luxury of blue cheese and him none 😉

  12. Cecilia January 3, 2020 @ 1:43 PM Reply

    Can you recommend another dressing for this amazing salad? I am not a fan of dijon.

    • Sarah January 4, 2020 @ 5:12 PM Reply

      I’d use another mustard then. Or even good mayo if you like creaminess. Or just leave it out – a honey vinegarette is good!

Winter Pear Salad Recipe | Damn Delicious (2024)

FAQs

What do pears pair well with? ›

Pears are often considered best eaten fresh and just-sliced, making them a perfect partner for wholesome, simple snacking – think sliced pears atop whole-grain toast, wrapped with prosciutto, dipped in nut butters, or partnered with blue or aged, hard cheeses.

What nuts go well with pears? ›

SWEETLY luscious ripe pears have an affinity for nuts of all kinds. Walnuts, pecans and almonds can be scattered on pear desserts and salads or used in the batter of pear cakes.

Where did pear salad originate? ›

The origin of the pear salad traces back to "The American Salad Book," written in 1899 which lists a salad made by placing a pear on a bed of lettuce with a mayonnaise dressing. The ingredients are lettuce, canned pears, mayonnaise (preferably Dukes), and Cheddar cheese.

How to make salad fun to eat? ›

A blend of crunchy (nuts and seeds), chewy (dried fruit), crispy (bell peppers or fennel), and soft (avocado or hard-boiled egg) foods make for a more balanced and ultimately more satisfying salad.

What enhances the flavor of pears? ›

In classic French cuisine, pears are often poached with vanilla beans in wine, and for good reason. The wine's fruit-forward acidity perks up the mellow pears, while fragrant vanilla beans amplify their floral aroma and the gentle cooking method keeps their delicate texture intact.

What brings out the flavor of pears? ›

Pears are wonderful eaten out of hand, but they also add elegance to tarts, pastries and other fall desserts. Poached whole in wine or transformed into compote, their flavor blends well with ginger, vanilla, orange peel, raisins and warm spices, such as clove and cinnamon.

What meat pairs with pears? ›

According to this principle, cured meats such as mortadella, salami, and cooked ham go well with apples, peaches, exotic fruits, citrus fruits, pineapple, pears, and kiwi. While cured meats such as prosciutto, bresaola, and speck can be paired with figs, apples, apricots, watermelon, melon, strawberries, and berries.

Can dogs eat pears? ›

Yes, dogs can eat pears. Pears are a great snack because they're high in copper, vitamins C and K, and fiber. If you're sharing pears with your dog, just be sure to cut the pear flesh into bite-size chunks and remove the pit and seeds first, as the seeds contain traces of cyanide.

What country is known for pears? ›

In 2022, world production of pears was 26 million tonnes, led by China with 73% of the total (table).

What salad was invented in California? ›

The iconic Cobb Salad was invented in 1937 at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, California, by Bob Cobb. The ingredients for Cobb Salad vary from recipe to recipe but they typically start with some sort of leafy green like Romaine lettuce.

Who brought pears to America? ›

The first pear trees were likely planted in Mexico and South America, where they thrived in the warm, tropical climate. In the 17th century, Spanish missionaries introduced pear trees to California, where the fruit quickly became popular among settlers.

How can I make my salad more flavorful? ›

A great way of adding flavour is by loading up your salad with herbs such as mint, coriander, parsley, basil and micro herbs. You can either toss through whole leaves and microherbs, tear the leaves up by hand, or finely slice and stir the herbs through your dressing.

How can I jazz up my salad? ›

Simple ways to spice up your salad
  1. Use a lettuce that you actually like! ...
  2. Add roasted veggies: I love adding roasted sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts or broccoli to a salad! ...
  3. Mix it up & Chop it up! ...
  4. Add a little crunch: A little texture difference is a big thing in a salad!
Aug 5, 2019

What can I add to my salad to make it interesting? ›

Top 20 Healthy Salad Toppings
  1. Chopped Raw Vegetables. A typical salad starts with raw greens, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, mixed greens or arugula. ...
  2. Nuts and Seeds. ...
  3. Dried Fruit. ...
  4. Whole Grains. ...
  5. Beans and Legumes. ...
  6. Fresh Fruit. ...
  7. Baked Tortilla or Pita Chips. ...
  8. Shredded Hard Cheeses.
Dec 17, 2018

What to avoid when buying pears? ›

Shopping for Eating

Pears for eating should yield slightly more when pressed at the neck, like a ripe avocado. Avoid pears that are soft at the base, which are overripe.

What are the pros and cons of eating pears? ›

They are low in protein and can cause an imbalance of your essential fatty acids. On the other hand, pears are high in fiber; increase good gut bacteria and prolong your life. Balance out the disadvantages of pears by eating other fruit and vegetables in your diet. Also eat enough protein every day.

Can I eat pears and apple together? ›

Yes you can eat them together . No problem in doing so.

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