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Pear & Gorgonzola Salad with Candied Pecans and Arugula

A festive and elegant salad with juicy pears, peppery arugula, creamy gorgonzola, and crunchy candied pecans. Perfect for holidays or weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:5 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Keyword: arugula salad, candied pecans, gorgonzola salad, holiday salad, pear salad
Servings: 4
Calories: 290kcal
Author: Steph

Equipment

  • 1 Skillet (for pecans)
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Small bowl or jar (for dressing)
  • 1 Large serving bowl
  • 1 Chef’s knife & cutting board

Ingredients

Salad

  • 6 cups baby arugula
  • 2 ripe pears, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
  • ½ cup candied pecans
  • ¼ red onion, thinly sliced

Dressing

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Candy the pecans: In a skillet, melt 2 tbsp sugar with 1 tsp butter over medium heat. Stir in pecans until coated, then transfer to parchment paper to cool.
  • Whisk together dressing ingredients until smooth.
  • In a large bowl, arrange arugula, pears, gorgonzola, red onion, and candied pecans.
  • Drizzle with dressing just before serving.