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    Home » Recipe » Salads and Sides » Rocket and Pear Salad

    Rocket and Pear Salad

    Published: Apr 23, 2021 · Modified: Jan 31, 2023 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, rocket and pear salad has a ton of flavor and texture from Asian pear, blue cheese, walnuts and spicy rocket. I love this salad as a meal on it's own and it couldn't be simpler to make!

    Rocket and Pear Salad With Yams and String Beans
    Rocket and Pear Salad With Yams and String Beans

    Why you should make this salad

    Rocket, pears, string beans, nuts and roasted veggies are all hearty ingredients that will hold up well to dressing. These ingredients taste fantastic together, dressed with a delicious honey and apple cider vinegar dressing. Because of the firm texture of these ingredients, rocket and pear salad can be made ahead, dressed up to half an hour before serving, and served at room temperature.

    Jump to:
    • Why you should make this salad
    • What is rocket?
    • A salad for all seasons
    • Apple cider dressing-a versatile vinaigrette
    • Ingredient notes
    • Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe

    This salad also works well served warm and dressed just before serving. I have adapted this recipe from one I wrote for Edible Vancouver Island in 2019. The article went alongside an article I wrote on hosting a long table dinner. When hosting a large dinner, make ahead dishes are essential which makes this salad perfect. You can read that article here , I think as we get through 2021, gathering at a big table will be more desired than ever.

    What is rocket?

    Deliciously peppery rocket is also known as arugula. A cool weather green, it grows well in the spring and fall and is widely available. Rocket grows as a perennial coming up in my garden every spring. In fact it is amongst the first greens to pop up, along with parsley and rhubarb. I grow an heirloom Italian variety that is quite hearty and if you are in my area or passing through, I love offering the seeds or transplants to anyone who wants them.

    Heirloom Italian Arugula
    Italian Arugula

    A salad for all seasons

    In addition to this lovely salad green, the other ingredients including pears have a wide availability throughout the year as they keep so well in a cool pantry. This is a salad I love year round because the ingredients are economical and easy to source. A hearty warm side dish in fall and winter then served cool as a light main course in spring and summer.

    Apple cider dressing-a versatile vinaigrette

    Apple cider vinegar salad dressing (vinaigrette) is the perfect pairing. Lightly sweet, echoing the pears with a touch of honey that is an exciting contrast with the blue cheese. This lovely, simple and light dressing is excellent on many other salads too so feel free to double the batch (It multiplies well) for another day.

    This is a large and satisfying salad that is perfect for a big family dinner, a potluck or simply to have leftovers for your midweek lunch.

    apple cider and honey vinaigrette for rocket salad
    apple cider and honey vinaigrette for rocket salad

    Ingredient notes

    Rocket is peppery and delicious, holding up well to the other big flavours but you can use other greens if you prefer. Kale, spinach, mustard greens and chicory all work well too.

    No pears, no problem. Try thinly slicing apple instead.

    Don’t like blue cheese? Too bad….Just kidding. Of course you can substitute and I recommend a flavourful cheese like crumbled old cheddar or feta. This is a fun salad to play with. Keep the rocket and the dressing but switch up the yam for sweet potato or roasted carrots.

    Tips

    If you won’t use all the salad the same day, dress only what you will use and store remaining salad and dressing separately from each other.

    To make this salad extra colorful I used red Asian pears instead of the equally delicious but less colorful Bartletts or Anjou. All will taste just as lovely.

    Related Recipes

    I love a salad with heart and personality. I believe all salads need at least one special ingredient. If you agree, you might love some of my other salads like Strawberry and Goat Cheese salad, also made with rocket, Seared Tuna Nicoise Salad and the punchy Thai flavored Flank Steak Salad.

    Have a wonderful day and let me know by tagging me on social media or commenting below if you give this a try!

    ox Sabrina

    Recipe

    Rocket Pear and Roasted Veg Salad with yams and walnuts

    Rocket and Pear salad

    Sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, rocket and pear salad has a ton of flavor and texture from Asian pear, blue cheese, walnuts and spicy rocket. Easily a main course or a side dish.
    5 from 37 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Hot Salad, Salad
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Author: Sabrina Currie

    Ingredients

    For the Salad

    • 4 c yams, cut in 1” cubes (about 2 large yams)
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 c green beans, tops trimmed off about 300g
    • 2 pears, cored and thinly sliced on a mandoline
    • 8 c rocket (aka arugula) or other hearty mixed greens kale, arugula, spinach and mustard greens work great too.
    • 1.5 c crumbled creamy blue cheese 150g cambazola or gorgonzola
    • 1 c walnuts

    For the Dressing

    • 3 tablespoon honey
    • 4 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon lemon thyme, finely chopped or regular thyme
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Pepper
    • 4 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions

    Salad

    • Preheat oven to 350’F. Toss yams with oil and roast 20-25 minutes until soft but still firm when pierced with fork. Blanch green beans in boiling water for 2 minutes then plunge into ice water to stop cooking and drain in colander until ready to serve.
    • When ready to serve (or up to an hour before) add rocket and any other greens along with pears to a bowl and gently toss with half of dressing and then arrange on a long platter. Top with green beans, yams, walnuts and blue cheese, drizzle remaining salad dressing over and serve.

    Dressing

    • Whisk all dressing ingredients together. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @wckitchengarden or tag #wckitchengarden!
    « Red Cabbage Sauerkraut/Fermented Red Cabbage
    Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese with Hot Honey »

    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joss

      April 27, 2021 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is the kind of salad that I can definitely eat as a whole meal. The dressing is lovely, the pears add a touch of sweetness and the walnuts add the perfect crunch!

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        April 27, 2021 at 4:47 pm

        Thanks so much Joss! Enjoy 💕

        Reply
    2. Colleen

      April 27, 2021 at 4:22 pm

      This salad looks so delicious and unique. I am super excited to try it!

      Reply
    3. amyg

      April 27, 2021 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      I love rocket greens. The pear is a bonus. I love adding fruit to my salads they always give a sort of decadence to something plane. I can't wait to try this.

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        April 27, 2021 at 4:47 pm

        Thanks Amy!

        Reply
    4. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady

      April 27, 2021 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow what a beautiful salad! I love using apple cider vinegar for dressings. Such a delicious and healthy way to make dressing.

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        April 27, 2021 at 8:23 pm

        Thanks so much Cindy!

        Reply
    5. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      May 13, 2021 at 12:32 am

      5 stars
      My mouth is watering. I have to make this tonight!

      Reply

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