This Pear Arugula Salad is truly a classic Italian salad. The complementary flavors of peppery arugula, sweet juicy pears, creamy walnuts and salty Parmesan cheese create such a burst of flavors! You'll love this salad even if you don't like arugula.
Halve and core the pears. Slice ¼-inch thick and place in a shallow bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Set aside.
Place the arugula in a large bowl.
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the olive oil with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Before serving, toss the arugula with the vinaigrette to evenly coat the leaves.
Transfer to a shallow serving bowl or platter.
Scatter the toasted walnuts and arrange the pear slices on top of the salad. Finally, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan shavings.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
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Notes
Toasting walnuts (or any nuts) improves their taste and aroma and increases the crunchiness of the nut. So if you are wondering whether or not you should skip this step.... don't. Your taste buds will thank you!
This salad is best enjoyed as soon as the arugula is combined with the vinaigrette, as the greens will start to wilt immediately.
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.