Pear Salad (Fresh & Easy Winter Green Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing)
Pear Salad – a fresh, crisp winter green salad featuring juicy pears and apples, crunchy roasted cashews, Swiss cheese, and dried cranberries, all tossed in a creamy homemade poppy seed dressing. This easy salad comes together in minutes and is perfect for holiday tables or any day of the week!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- For the Poppy Seed Dressing:
- 6 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp half-and-half
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/8 tsp salt
- For the Salad:
- 5 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup roasted cashews, chopped
- 1 green pear, sliced
- 1 apple, cubed
- 3 tbsp dried cranberries
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, half-and-half, sugar, vinegar, poppy seeds, mustard, and salt until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine lettuce, cheese, cashews, pear, apple, and cranberries.
- Pour dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently to coat.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Slice pears and apples just before serving to prevent browning, or toss with a little lemon juice.
- Substitute honey for the sugar for a different sweetness profile.
- Use gorgonzola, blue cheese, or feta instead of Swiss cheese for a tangier flavor.
- Add grilled chicken or turkey for a heartier main course salad.
- Replace cashews with candied pecans or walnuts for a festive twist.
- Dressing can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 7 days – shake or whisk before using.
- For a lighter dressing, substitute Greek yogurt for half the mayonnaise.
- This salad is best served immediately – add dressing right before serving to keep greens crisp.