Ingredients
Units
For the salad:
- 3 cups arugula (rocket), washed and dried
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced red onion or shallots
- 1 pear (I used Bartlett)
- 2 medjool dates, chopped into little pieces
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons chopped almonds
For the vinaigrette:
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup oil (extra virgin olive oil or sunflower oil)
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
For the vinaigrette:
- I suggest using a blender (a glass jar is better so the oil and mustard doesn't permeate the plastic) or an immersion blender as this dressing/vinaigrette separates after a while.
- In a jar with lid or bowl, mix vinegar, mustard, honey and some salt.
- Slowly add oil while mixing well.
- Add pepper and check seasoning.
- Refrigerate while you prepare salad. Or if you make a large quantity.
For the salad:
- Preheat oven to 350°F /180°C.
- Brush a baking pan with oil or butter.
- Cut pear in half and scoop out the centres.
- Cut each half into wedges.
- Bake half of the pieces for about 10 minutes, until they soften up but still retain the shape. (Alternatively, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a medium skillet and cook half the wedges until beginning to brown). Reserve.
- In a bowl dress arugula with three tablespoons of vinaigrette.
- Mound arugula on center of platter or individual plates.
- Scatter shallots or onion on top.
- Add half the raw and half of the baked pear wedges.
- Scatter half the chopped dates, cranberries, and almonds on top of the arugula.
- Repeat with remaining ingredients in same order.
- Drizzle a few tablespoons of vinaigrette and serve with extra dressing on the side.
Notes
- Organization:Â read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperature, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier.
- When to dress it: arugula can wilt pretty quickly, so I suggest you add the dressing just before you take it to the table.
- Make ahead: the dressing can be made up to 2 weeks before, and the cooked pears can be made a day in advance. Keep both refrigerated and covered.
- Double or triple the recipe for a large crowd.Â
- Dressing: it separates after a while, so you might consider blending it right before serving.
- Variations and substitutions: see the post above.Â
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salads
- Method: Baking + Mixing
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4
- Calories: 317
- Sugar: 21.2 g
- Sodium: 296.6 mg
- Fat: 23.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 27.5 g
- Fiber: 4.1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg