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    Home » Mains

    Asian Pear Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese

    Published: May 20, 2024 · Modified: Aug 11, 2024 by Elcy Wang · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you've been looking for Asian pear salad recipes, here's one that's definitely worth a try!  Think of a mouthwatering crisp salad with crunchy textures and bold flavors that you can enjoy whenever Asian pears are available in your area.

    Asian pear salad in a white bowl.
    Jump to:
    • What's an Asian Pear?
    • What to Eat with an Asian Pear?
    • Health Benefits of Asian Pears
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Storage
    • FAQ
    • Pairing
    • Recipe

    What's an Asian Pear?

    Asian pair on a grey textured surface.

    The best way to describe the taste and texture of an Asian pear is to imagine a pear-flavored apple.  Asian pears are crisp and crunchy like an apple, with the honey-like sweetness of a typical pear.  This wonderful fruit stays fresh for much longer than other pear varieties, as long as it is not bruised.

    What to Eat with an Asian Pear?

    A crisp Asian pear is delicious chilled and eaten on its own, but there are other ways to enjoy this wonderful fruit:

    • Add them sliced to a cheese plate.  
    • Blend them in smoothies.
    • Toss them sliced or cubed into a salad.

    Health Benefits of Asian Pears

    Like other types of pears, Asian pears are a good source of fiber, which aids digestion.  They are also a good source of copper, folate, and magnesium.  

    While they contain much higher amounts of sugar than berries, they are considered a low-glycemic fruit due to their fiber content.  The fiber slows down the absorption of sugar in your body so you are less likely to experience a glucose spike.

    Ingredients

    Salad ingredients in separate containers.
    • Asian pear - Even though Asian pears are more common in the Fall months, I have found them at Whole Foods and other local stores as early as May.
    • Cherry tomatoes - I like to get ones on the vine so that they don't spoil too quickly.
    • Herb salad mix - I either use the Trader Joe's version or the Earthbound Farm brand.  
    • Crumbed gorgonzola cheese - Gorgonzola is a sharp blue cheese with a salty bite.  This flavor stands out on its own and helps the pear and cherry tomato flavors shine as well.
    • Pine nuts - I use the raw version, but toasted is also fine.  They taste the same either way.
    • Gluten-free croutons - Check out my post on how to make gluten-free croutons.  They're super easy to make and taste better than what you can find in grocery stores.
    • White wine vinaigrette - you can use a store-bought version or make this easy white wine vinaigrette recipe.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Chopped Asian pear on a black cutting board.

    Cut the pear into bite-sized pieces.

    Chopped cherry tomatoes on a black cutting board.

    Quarter the cherry tomatoes.

    Asian pear salad ingredients in a glass mixing bowl, not yet combined.

    If desired, chop the herb salad greens into bite-sized pieces before adding them to a large mixing bowl.  Add the remaining ingredients, then toss to combine.

    Asian pear salad in a white bowl.


    Serve in a large salad bowl and enjoy immediately!

    Substitutions

    Other Pear Varieties

    I have also used Bartlett, D'Angeau, and Bosc pears in this recipe instead of Asian pears.  Although these alternate varieties do not have a crisp texture, their softer and juicy textures are also good for this salad.

    Mixed Greens

    The herb mix is definitely the best for this recipe, however a Spring mix works almost as well.

    Crumbled Cheese

    If you prefer a milder cheese, toss in some crumbled feta instead.

    Nuts

    Instead of pine nuts, you can use sunflower seeds.

    Storage

    While this salad is best consumed immediately, you can store it in an airtight container for a couple of days.  

    FAQ

    Do Asian Pears need to be peeled?

    Organic Asian pears do not need to be peeled.  It is best to peel conventionally grown Asian pears to avoid pesticide exposure, as they are on the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list.

    Why are Asian pears wrapped in foam?

    Asian pears are wrapped in foam to protect them from bruising.  This allows the pears to stay fresh for a much longer time as bruising makes them spoil quickly.

    What cheese goes with Asian pears?

    Sharp cheeses like cheddar and blue cheese go well with the flavor of Asian pears.

    Pairing

    • White wine vinaigrette in a mason jar next to a plate of mixed green salad.
      Easy White Wine Vinaigrette (Gluten-Free Salad Dressing Recipe)
    • Gluten-free croutons in a clear plastic jar.
      How to Make Gluten-Free Croutons (Easy)

    Recipe

    Asian pear salad in a white bowl.
    No ratings yet

    Asian Pear Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese

    This is a mouthwatering crisp Asian pear salad with crunchy textures and bold flavors that you can put together in 15 minutes!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 171kcal
    Author: Elcy Wang
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    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 Asian pear, chopped chopped
    • 15 cherry tomatoes quartered
    • 5 oz mixed greens (herb mix or spring mix) chopped
    • ⅓ cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
    • ½ cup pine nuts
    • 1 cup gluten-free croutons
    • ½ cup white wine vinaigrette start with ¼ cup if you prefer a lighter amount.

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Add all of the salad ingredients to a large mixing bowl.  Toss well to combine.
    • Serve in a large salad bowl and enjoy immediately!

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 152mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Welcome!

    I'm Elcy, a certified nutrition coach, health and wellness food blogger, and home chef.  I love to share recipes and techniques to make home cooking a reality for anyone interested in upgrading their health.

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