Pomegranate Salad with Pears

By Amy Dong
Updated Dec. 27, 2024

5 from 1 vote
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This Pomegranate Salad with Pears is the perfect holiday salad, teeming with crispy crunchy candied nuts, luscious fresh pears, and beautiful pomegranate seeds. Drizzled over it is a phenomenal vinaigrette.

A plate of Pomegranate Salad featuring lettuce, pomegranate seeds, crumbled cheese, candied nuts, and slices of pear. — You’ll love the sweet and tangy vinaigrette in this incredibly easy, holiday-ready Pomegranate Salad with Pears!

Why This Recipe Stands Out

We love great salad recipes, and this Pomegranate Salad with Pears is a favorite. Here’s why:

Vibrant and Festive: The vibrant colors and fresh, seasonal ingredients make this salad a standout at any table, a lot like our Pasta Primavera.
Healthy and Flavor-Packed: Packed with romaine lettuce, pears, pomegranate seeds, and feta cheese, this salad is as nutritious as it is delicious, like this Apple Pecan Salad.
Holiday-Ready: This recipe is super simple to put together, but it’s so elegant, it would make a perfect holiday salad.
Phenomenal Dressing: Our homemade vinaigrette is a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The combination of apple cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard is a winner.
Crunchy Texture: A generous sprinkling of crunchy, cinnamon sugar candied pecans takes this salad to a whole new level.

Key Recipe Ingredients

A small glass bowl filled with bright red pomegranate seeds on a dark surface.

Pomegranate Seeds – Fresh pomegranate seeds add a pop of vibrant color to the salad and a juicy sweetness that balances the other flavors.
Pears – We use ripe red pears that are thinly sliced and tossed in lemon juice. Their sweet, slightly tart flavor and crisp texture make them a perfect addition to the salad.
Feta Cheese – We love the salty, tangy flavor of feta cheese in this salad. It adds a creamy richness that pairs wonderfully with the fruits and nuts.

Substitutions And Variations

Here are our favorite substitutions and variations for this recipe:

Greens: Feel free to substitute the romaine with mixed greens, kale, or spinach.
Fruits: We love the sweetness and juiciness of red pears in this salad, but you can use green pears or apples as well. You can also use fresh orange segments.
Cheese: Try substituting the feta with blue cheese, Roquefort, or Gorgonzola.
Nuts: Instead of candied pecans, you can also use candied walnuts or almonds.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a small bowl or jar and whisk or shake well. Keep chilled.
Combine romaine with half of the vinaigrette and toss well to coat.
Add pears, pears, pears, and top with blue cheese. Drizzle desired amount of the remaining vinaigrette.
Sprinkle with candied pecans and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Take a look at our favorite prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:

Make the Vinaigrette: The vinaigrette can be prepared in advance. Simply combine all the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar and give it a good shake. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Make the Candied Nuts: Candied pecans can be made up to a week beforehand. Keep in an airtight container until ready to use.
Pre-assemble the Salad: Another option is to fully assemble the salad ahead of time, excluding the vinaigrette and nuts. Cover and refrigerate the assembled salad and vinaigrette separately. When you’re ready to serve, drizzle the vinaigrette, sprinkle on the nuts, and toss.

A white plate with pomegranate salad featuring sliced pears, crumbled cheese, and candied nuts. — Pomegranate salad just begs for ripe pears and savory blue cheese. Plus a sprinkling of crunchy candied nuts.

What To Serve With Pomegranate Salad with Pears

Holiday Main Dishes

This Pomegranate Salad with Pear is perfect for the holidays! This means it’ll go well with just about any holiday main dish, like our Roasted Turkey.
We also love it with this Smoked Spatchcock Turkey and Prime Rib with Au Jus.

Light Lunch

If you’re going to eat salad, and if January is treating you healthy, then there’s no better way to go about it. It’s delicious as a starter to our Air Fryer Salmon.
You can’t go wrong serving it alongside some Grilled Chicken Thighs or Air Fryer Chicken Wings.

Other Salads

Serve it as a centerpiece in a salad spread for a healthy feast! It goes great alongside Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad and our Roasted Pear Salad.

Commonly Asked Questions

What type of pear is best for this salad?

We recommend using a ripe red pear for this salad. It adds a beautiful pop of color and a sweet, juicy flavor that complements the pomegranate seeds and tangy vinaigrette.

How do I prevent the pear slices from turning brown?

To prevent the pear slices from turning brown, toss them with enough lemon juice to coat all slices. The citric acid in the lemon juice helps inhibit the oxidation process, keeping the pears looking fresh and appetizing.

How long does pomegranate salad with pears keep?

This salad is best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, they can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. However, the vinaigrette and the fruits may cause the salad to become soggy, so it’s best to consume it on the day it’s made.

Did you make this?

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