Fennel Pear Salad + Champagne Vinaigrette
This easy Fennel Pear Salad brings together sliced fennel, sweet pears, arugula, tender pearl couscous, Gorgonzola cheese, and honey-roasted pepitas. Tossed in a perfectly balanced homemade champagne vinaigrette, it's a fresh and flavorful side dish that's great for holidays or serving a crowd any time of year!
Ingredients
Champagne Vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons light olive oil
- ¼ cup champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- pinch kosher salt and ground black pepper
Fennel Pear Salad:
- ½ cup pearl couscous
- 3 cups arugula
- 1 cup fresh fennel halved & sliced
- 1 pear seeds removed & diced or sliced
- ⅓ cup Gorgonzola cheese crumbled
- ¼ cup honey roasted pepitas
Instructions
- Cook Couscous: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook ½ cup pearl couscous according to the package directions. Drain and set aside to let fully cool.
- Make Vinaigrette: In a small food processor, add ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons light olive oil, ¼ cup champagne vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, and a pinch kosher salt and ground black pepper. Blend to combine and set aside. Alternatively, you can also whisk everything together in a small bowl.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, add 3 cups arugula, sliced fennel, diced or sliced pear, ⅓ cup Gorgonzola cheese, and ¼ cup honey roasted pepitas. Toss to combine.
- Serve: Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat right before serving!
Notes
- Fennel: cutting a fennel bulb might feel a bit intimidating, so check out our tutorial on how to cut fennel.
- Dairy-Free: swap out the gorgonzola for a dairy-free alternative.
- Gluten-Free: use your favorite gluten-free couscous.
- Prep Ahead of Time: feel free to prep this salad ahead of time (especially if you are adding it to your holiday table), just make sure you wait to cut the pear until right before serving (to prevent browning) and also wait on the vinaigrette in order to prevent sogginess.
- Add Protein: option to turn this salad into a main dish by adding a protein, like air fryer chicken breasts or perfectly grilled steaks.
Nutrition
Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg
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