This pear salad tastes delicious with some homemade deli roast beef sandwiches, easy oven baked seekh kebabs, grilled tandoori lamb chops, roast leg of goat and Pakistani chicken steam roast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick & easy recipe - Just a handful of ingredients and a little chopping gets your refreshing and beautiful pear salad with goat cheese and dates on the table. Beautiful at your table - This salad is so pretty to look at, it will knock your guests off their feet when you serve it at your next event. Great side option for the holidays - This is a great side for your Easter lamb or your holiday Turkey. Delicious & healthy - A salad that’s as delicious as it is healthy will make it so much easier to follow those clean eating resolutions.
Ingredient Notes
Pears - You can use Bartlett, Bosch or Anjou pears to make this salad. Dates - I always use Medjool Dates by Natural Delights for all my cooking. These can be easily sourced at your local grocery store. Hazelnuts - I use raw, peeled hazelnuts for this recipe and toast them myself. You can get pre roasted nuts if you prefer. Goat Cheese - I usually get a small container of goat cheese crumbles for the pear salad, but feel free to chop up a large block if you prefer. Microgreens - I love microgreens for their taste and nutritional value. I source mine directly from a supplier but you can find them at your local Whole Foods or farmers markets. Edible flowers - These are also often available at a whole foods or local farmers market. While not essential, they look beautiful and also contain lots of nutritional value. Infused olive oil - I always get my infused oils and vinegars from a locally owned store, Pass Christian Olive Oils and Vinegars. You can usually find these at local stores as well. Pomegranate molasses - If you’ve never tried this I highly recommend that you do! Essentially a concentrated pomegranate juice, it adds a ton of flavor to dressings and marinades. Balsamic Vinegar Glaze - I buy this ready made but you can also cook down regular balsamic vinegar and make your own.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Substitutes & variations
Here are some ways to switch up the recipe if you’re in the mood for a slight change.
Add some leafy greens - You can add more greens as a base for the salad in the form of arugula or baby spinach. Change the cheese - try the salad with feta, gorgonzola or blue cheese for a change of taste. Switch up the nuts - Walnuts and pecans also pair well with the combination of pear, goat cheese and dates. Add a little color without the flowers - Can’t source flowers? Try adding some red onions or pomegranate seeds for a pop of color. Change the dressing - A light store bought vinaigrette of your choice can be used instead of using the oil and vinegar.
The Recipe
This recipe was created at the spur of the moment as a side for my steak-in-air-fryer-oven. Sometimes it’s the unplanned recipes that yield the best results! I had tons of leftover Medjool dates after the end of Ramadan, a handful of hazelnuts in my pantry and some very juicy pears in the fridge. since then, I’ve enjoyed this salad with my chicken tikka sandwiches and many other mains!
Expert Tips
Pick firm pears - It’s best to pick firm, crisp pears for the salad. Soft ones often can’t withstand all the tossing and stirring. Squeeze some lemon - To prevent the pears from browning, squeeze some lemon juice on them as soon as you cut them.
Other Salads You May Enjoy
For more Pakistani recipes like this, check out 20 popular Pakistani recipes. If you decide to try this recipe, Please don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below! If you take a picture then tag me on Instagram! Thank You!