Pear and Rocket Salad

Pear and rocket salad is a simple side dish or lunch that is so easy to make.

With the peppery tang of rocket, (arugula), crunch of walnuts, the natural sweetness of pears, this salad also has a generous crumbling of Stilton cheese, for added creaminess.

Perfect for summer eating, barbecues, or just with grilled meats, this salad is so versatile too.

Enjoy!

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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
🥘 Ingredients
🍽 Equipment
🔪 Instructions
🥗 Serve with
🥙 Substitutions
📖 Variations
🍣Storage
🍱 Prepare in Advance
📋 Recipe
💬 Comments

When I grew up salad was always a predicatable affair of round lettuce, slices of cucumber and tomato wedges. That was it.

Nowadays, I like plenty of variation to include fruits, nuts, cheese and raw vegetables.

Pears have long been a partner for Stilton cheese, so I've kept this classic combination along with walnuts in a tangy honey and mustard dressing.

This pear and rocket salad makes a simple side dish, that really goes with barbecued meats, roast meats or just a humble sausage. However, it is also great as a simple salad for lunch or a picnic.

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

Prepared in just 15 minutes.
Great as a meal or side dish.
Perfect for summer eating.
Easy to vary the ingredients.

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🥘 Ingredients

rocket - this is easy to buy in bags in most supermarkets. It has a warm, peppery taste.
walnuts - as the walnuts will be chopped, it's fine to buy walnut pieces, as they are normally cheaper.
Stilton - also known as the king of cheeses, this creamy and tangy cheese is also slightly salty, so I don't put it in the dressing.
oil - extra virgin olive oil for dressings that are not heated. This is the first press of the oil and has more flavour than normal olive oil.
mustard - for extra texture, I've used wholegrain mustard.
vinegar - white wine vinegar.
pears - conference pears are commonly available and are great raw or cooked, as they hold their shape. They are a naturally sweet dessert pear.
lemon juice - the lemon juice is to stop the sliced pears from discolouring, so lemon juice out of a bottle is fine to use.
pepper - freshly ground black pepper.

The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post.

🍽 Equipment

sharp knife
cutting board
large bowl or serving dish

🔪 Instructions

Put the ingredients for the pear and rocket salad dressing in a small bowl.

Mix the pepper, oil, vinegar, lemon juice and mustard with a fork to combine.

Roughly chop the walnuts.

They don't need to be a particular size, just no large pieces.

Wash the pears, but there is no need to peel.

Cut the pears in half lengthways.

Trim off the stalk end and cut a 'v' shape out to remove the core.

Slice each pear lengthways into fine slices.

Put the pear slices in a bowl with lemon juice and stir to coat.

Place the rocket into a large bowl or serving dish.

Add the dressing and toss well to combine.

Stir in the walnut pieces.

Arrange the pear slices and crumble over the Stilton cheese to serve.

🥗 Serve with

Serve the rocket and walnut salad with some of these ideas.

🥙 Substitutions

extra virgin olive oil - use normal olive oil, nut oil or avocado oil.
white wine vinegar - apple cider vinegar also works well in dressings.
walnuts - pecans have a similar crunch and flavour.
wholegrain mustard - use Dijon mustard.
Stilton - try feta or grilled halloumi.

📖 Variations

Use some of these ideas

apples
hazelnuts
almonds
mixed lettuce

🍣Storage

Refrigerator - best eaten on the same day or cover and refrigerate for a day.

🍱 Prepare in Advance

Prepare the walnuts, dressing and pears a day in advance and assemble just before serving.

🤔 FAQs

Can you freeze Stilton cheese?

Absolutely, I do this all the time, especially when I have leftovers at Christmas.

There are so many uses for Stilton, from a steak, onion and Stilton sandwich to a broccoli and Stilton soup and pear and rocket salad.

Simple cut into portions and wrap in cling film or foil. I prefer to wrap in baking parchment first.

Freeze the Stilton for up to 3 months. Cheese often becomes crumbly when frozen, so thaw it overnight slowly in the refrigerator if you want to slice it.

More salad ideas

📋 Recipe

Pear and Rocket Salad

Amanda

This pear and rocket salad is quintessentially British with the addition of crunchy walnuts and Stilton cheese.

4.95 from 18 votes

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Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine British

Servings

Calories 375 kcal

Equipment

Sharp knife
cutting board
large bowl or serving dish

Ingredients

120 g rocket 2 small bags
100 g walnuts
100 g Stilton
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 pears

For the dressing

2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Put the ingredients for the dressing; pepper, oil, vinegar, lemon juice and mustard into a small bowl and mix with a fork to combine.
Rough chop the walnuts.
Wash the pears and cut the pears in half lengthways.
Trim off the stalk end and cut a 'v' shape out to remove the core.
Slice each pear lengthways into fine slices.
Put the pear slices in a bowl with lemon juice and stir to coat.
Place the rocket into a large bowl or serving dish.
Add the dressing and toss well to combine.
Stir in the walnut pieces.
Arrange the pear slices and crumble over the Stilton cheese to serve.

Nutrition Facts

Pear and Rocket Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 375 Calories from Fat 279

% Daily Value*

Fat 31g48%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Polyunsaturated Fat 13g

Monounsaturated Fat 9g

Cholesterol 19mg6%

Sodium 311mg14%

Potassium 401mg11%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 10g11%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 932IU19%

Vitamin C 12mg15%

Calcium 215mg22%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

Detailed instructions for this recipe, including step by step photographs, hints and tips, can be found in the main article

Keyword pear and rocket salad, pear and rocket salad dressing, pear and stilton, rocket and pear salad, rocxket and walnut salad

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Food Safety

Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
Wash hands after touching raw meat.
Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
Never leave cooking food unattended.
Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
Always have good ventilation when using gas.

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Pear and Rocket Salad