Pear Salad Recipe with Sautéed Spinach

Name: Pear Salad Recipe with Sautéed Spinach
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar; 2 tablespoons raw almond butter; ½ cup extra virgin olive oil; pinch of salt and white pepper; 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh tarragon; 1 section shallot, minced; 10 ounces fresh spinach; 2 ripe pears, seeded and thinly sliced lengthwise; 3 Cherry Belle or Easter Egg radishes, thinly sliced; ½ cup sliced almonds; 1 avocado, diced

October 9, 2020 by Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

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Pears seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to fruits, but they’re more versatile than people think. That’s why I love to use them to make pear salad, among other things.

While bananas are eaten on the go and apples are tossed into lunchboxes, pears are often passed over. It’s a shame, too, because pears are loaded with nutrition.

They’re a top high-fiber food to keep you feeling full, reduce inflammation and are packed with antioxidants. Plus, they’re delicious!

If you’re looking to add more pears to your diet but aren’t sure how, you’ll love this pear salad recipe. It’s a great way to showcase the fruit, and the pears more than hold their own in this dish.

This pear salad makes a terrific starter or a light meal.

Healthy Ingredients

The nutrient-dense spinach and heart-healthy avocados add a dose of vitamins and minerals, and you’ll want to add the homemade dressing to all your salads from now on. Those aren’t the only health-boosting ingredients in this recipe.

Pears: This often overlooked fruit contains a good amount of vitamins C and K, copper and potassium, in addition to fiber. As such, pears help with immune, digestive, heart and bone health.
Spinach: This superfood is extremely high in vitamins K and A, along with folate and manganese. As such, spinach is great for combatting disease, boosting immunity, and supporting eye, skin and brain health.
Radish: Another vitamin C-rich ingredient, radishes help with detox, weight management and skin health.
Almonds: As a healthy fat source, almonds are nutrient-dense, supplying the body with vitamin A, manganese, magnesium. phosphorus, copper and so much more. They’re good for the heart, brain, skin, gut and bones.
Avocado: One of the most heralded superfoods, avocado is so nutrient-dense that it can help almost every aspect health, including the heart, gut, eyes, skin, hair and brain.

The homemade dressing is loaded with healthy ingredients as well.

White balsamic vinegar: White balsamic vinegar is made by cooking white grapes at a low temperature, which helps retain its mild flavor and light color. It helps with blood sugar and cholesterol control.
Almond butter: Almond butter makes a great alternative to peanut butter for those who are allergic, taking advantage of the health benefits of almonds.
Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is one of the healthiest oils on the planet, providing healthy fats along with vitamins K and E. It’s great for the heart, waistline, brain and healthy aging.
Tarragon: Tarragon is an herb that can improve digestion and sleep while fighting bacteria.
Shallot: Shallots are a high source of antioxidants that can boost overall healthy by fighting inflammation and improving circulation and detoxification.

Now that you know how beneficial each ingredient is, you may wonder: What are the best pears for salad? The most common used in cooking tend to be Bosc, Anjou and Bartlett, but any pear works so long as the pear is barley ripe.

How to Make Pear Salad

From kitchen to dinner table in under 15 minutes, this pear salad recipe is perfect for busy days.

Ready to prepare this pear salad? Let’s get started.

Pear salad recipe with sautéed spinach step 1 - Dr. Axe

We’ll begin by whipping up the dressing. This stuff is so creamy you won’t believe it’s dairy-free.

Toss the balsamic vinegar and almond butter into a blender and puree. Then, to make it drizzle-worthy, slowly add in olive oil and blend until the whole mixture is emulsified.

Transfer the dressing either to a serving container or a jar and add in the tarragon and shallot. At this point, the dressing is ready to be served.

It’ll also keep for up to a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I suggest making an extra batch to store and have on hand.

Pear salad recipe with sautéed spinach step 2 - Dr. Axe

Now, let’s get this salad together. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the spinach, sauteing for 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t forget to stir so the leaves wilt evenly.

When the spinach is ready, divvy it up among two plates and top with the pears, radishes, almonds and avocado for this warm pear salad recipe. Not a fan of almonds? Replace with your favorite nut — we’re going for maximum crunch here.

How do you cut a pear for salad? I prefer to cut them lengthwise in thin slices.

Pear salad recipe with sautéed spinach - Dr. Axe

Drizzle each pear salad with the tarragon dressing and enjoy!

You can also enjoy this pear salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing on its own or another homemade dressing of your choosing or add some cheese to make a pear gorgonzola salad, for example.

Best Autumn Salads

This pear salad is far from the only salad recipe suited for the fall. Try these other autumn salads as well: