Learn How to Make the Base Recipe
This is a variation of our side salad base recipe. If you are tired of boring side salads, try this goat cheese pear salad! Sweet pears paired with creamy feta, sweet potato crisps, and crunchy walnuts create a salad full of flavor and texture. This recipe is written as a side salad, but if you are looking for an entree salad, simply add extra toppings for more staying power.
Must Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Best Goat Cheese Pear Salad
Slice the sweet potatoes very thinly to make sure they crisp up in the microwave! If you have a mandolin, use it for consistent cuts.
Learn how to slice and dice like a pro in our knife skills 101 course!
Roast the walnuts for the best flavor and crunch, or buy nuts that have already been roasted.
Ingredients Substitutions
- Balsamic Vinegar: substitute aged or infused balsamic vinegar for more complex flavors and a touch of sweetness.
- Honey: substitute agave or maple syrup. Feel free to omit if using a well aged or thick balsamic vinegar.
- Dijon Mustard: substitute stone ground or whole grain mustard. We don’t recommend substituting yellow mustard.
- Garlic: substitute ¼ teaspoon pre-minced garlic, ⅛ teaspoon granulated garlic, or a dash of garlic powder.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: substitute infused extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. We don’t recommend using vegetable or soybean oil, as these are not heart-healthy oils. We love purchasing extra virgin olive oil from Enzo’s table. The quality is great, and the company shares a name with Chef V’s oldest son 🙂 Click the ad below the ingredient list to go directly to their website!
- Sweet Potatoes: use any variety – orange, white, or even purple!
- Arugula: use any leafy green or a combination of several. Butterhead, baby kale, red or green leaf lettuce, mizuna, romaine, spinach, and watercress are all great options. While iceberg lettuce technically works, it’s not as nutrient-rich or flavorful as other options.
- Pear: use your favorite variety – bartlett, bosc, anjou, Asian, etc.
- Walnuts: substitute any nut. Use sliced, slivered, or chopped almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, or pistachios. If using seeds, choose pumpkin, sunflower, or hemp seeds. If raw, toast before adding for best flavor.
- Goat Cheese: brie, feta, and Roquefort cheeses complement pears well. If making a vegan green salad, feel free to leave out or substitute with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for a similar cheesy flavor.
- Dried Cherries: substitute dried cranberries, figs, or dates.
Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts Variations
Change up the nuts, herbs, and dressing, or add additional fruits or vegetables to make different variations. The options are endless!
Want to make this side salad your own? Use our base recipe as a guide, and have fun customizing it to your taste!
Equipment Recommendations
Make sure your kitchen is stocked with these tools for easy preparation!
- Whisk (if making your own vinaigrette)
- Salad Dressing Shaker Bottle (optional)
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Salad Spinner
- Bench Scraper
- Serving Bowl
- Storage Containers (for leftover prepped ingredients)
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything!
Is this goat cheese pear salad recipe healthy?
This salad is full of healthy ingredients! The colorful pears, sweet potatoes, arugula, walnuts, goat cheese, and vinaigrette are full of flavor and nutrition.
Pears
Pears contain prebiotic fibers that support gut health. They also contain phytonutrients such as polyphenols, which may play a role in cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention. For the most nutrition, leave the peel on.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great source of important nutrients, such as beta carotene and anthocyanins, which are naturally occurring phytonutrients. These phytonutrients help with disease prevention. Be sure to leave the peel on!
Arugula
Arugula is rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium and iron. It also contains phytonutrients that promote health and help fight diseases.
Walnuts
Walnuts contain plant-based protein and healthy fats. Nuts of all varieties contain plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fats. These nutrients help you feel satisfied until your next meal. Walnuts contain plant-based omega-3 fatty acids that promote brain and heart health.
Goat Cheese
Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, which are essential for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Cheese is high in saturated fat, and while research is currently challenging the belief that full-fat dairy products are harmful, we still suggest limiting them until we know more. Centenarians in the Blue Zones consumed goat cheese as part of their diets, which may be associated with longevity. Goat cheese may also be more easily digestible than cow’s milk cheese, so those with lactose intolerance may still be able to enjoy this recipe!
Vinaigrette
A healthy vinaigrette dressing made from extra virgin olive oil and vinegar adds flavor and nutrition to salads. The fats and oils in vinaigrette help your body absorb certain nutrients in the salad. For optimal nutrition, make the vinaigrette yourself as suggested in the recipe!
Check out our Food as Medicine article to learn more about the health benefits of different foods and ingredients.
Goat Cheese Pear Salad Serving Suggestions
Make a full meal by serving goat cheese pear salad alongside roasted potatoes and simple turkey meatballs, with a filling salmon burger, or accompanied by Moroccan baked fish and roasted rosemary carrots.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Salad Storage Tips
If preparing in advance, leave the dressing off, and don’t dice the pear until ready to serve. Salad dressing wilts leafy greens, and pears turn brown once cut and held.
If you want to prepare the salad ahead of time but don’t want the arugula to wilt, consider purchasing a salad container that has a separate dressing container.
Want Some Non-Leafy Salad Recipes?
Try out these favorites!
Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
Share the Love – Leave us a Review!
Unlike many other recipe blogs, we actually encourage you to tweak our recipes. Not because they’re in need of change, haha, but because we believe one of the secrets to success in the kitchen is cooking to YOUR taste. Make the recipe, leave us a review, and tell us if you made any changes! We love hearing how you’ve made it your own.
Goat Cheese Pear Salad with Sweet Potato Crisps
Ingredients
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 extra small garlic clove, minced (~¼ teaspoon)
- ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Salad
- 1 small sweet potato, ~4 oz, sliced ⅛”
- Avocado or canola oil cooking spray
- 2 quarts loosely packed arugula
- ½ small pear, diced ½" (~½ cup)
- ¼ cup crumbled soft goat cheese
- ¼ cup roasted chopped walnuts
- 2 Tablespoons dried cherries
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare dressing. Combine balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, and garlic in a small bowl. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking continuously. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook sweet potato crisps. Working in batches, place the sliced sweet potatoes on a microwave-safe plate in a single layer. Spray with avocado or canola oil cooking spray, and then sprinkle with a little salt. Microwave for 3 minutes, flipping halfway and swapping chips in the middle of the plate with ones on the edge, until the chips begin to brown. Chips in the middle of the plate will brown faster. Continue to microwave at 30 second intervals as needed.
- Place all salad ingredients in a medium bowl or on your dinner plate. Have fun composing artistically or toss to combine with the dressing. If tossing, place the sweet potato crisps on top. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
FAQS
What type of pears work best for goat cheese pear salad?
How do I keep pears from turning brown?
What can I substitute for goat cheese?
If you don’t prefer goat cheese, there are several great alternatives:
- Feta cheese for a salty and tangy flavor
- Blue cheese for a stronger, bold taste
- Brie or ricotta for a milder and creamier option
- Nutritional yeast (for a vegan alternative)
