Summer is wrapping up and we are enjoying the last of our favorite summer fruits and vegetables. This Pear and Goat Cheese Salad is super light, yet full of crisp taste! The tartness of the green grapes mixed with the sweetness of pear blends perfectly with the creaminess of the goat cheese. Add the mango balsamic vinaigrette and you have yourself one amazing salad!
When I started writing my food blog back in 2012, I promised myself I would have a library full of salad selections. I do have a nice library of salads and I'm proud to add this one to the collection! I love salads and I swear...I feel like I eat a salad every single day. I try to at least...that's how much I love salads! It's still really hot here in Arizona, but at least we are getting into the mid 90's this week...so it is cooling off...a little bit...
It is cooling off enough for me to start planting my garden, so I'm excited about that! In my fall/winter garden I make sure I have plenty of lettuce planted. I love going out to the garden and picking my lettuce leaves off, washing them and making a fresh salad for lunch. It just does not get any fresher than that! This Pear and Goat Cheese Bistro salad is perfect for lunch and it's incredibly versatile. If you follow me, you know I love a good protein source added to my salads. For this one, I've added both shredded rotisserie chicken breast to the salad and cooked salmon. You don't even have to heat the meat up! Both the cold salmon and rotisserie chicken are great on this salad. Or you can choose to heat it up. Or you don't have to add any meat at all! Go vegetarian! This salad is so versatile...you get to decide!
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Speaking of versatility, let's talk about the dressing on this salad. This dressing has a balsamic vinegar and olive oil taste. You could use any flavor of balsamic vinegar you want, but I chose a mango vinaigrette today. I guarantee a raspberry vinaigrette would be fabulous in this dressing! Sometimes you just need to get creative...so have fun with this dressing! Mix it up a little! Look and see what you have in your cupboard and create a new dressing!!
Regardless of what vinaigrette you choose, this salad is a summer favorite! And it's simple. The dressing is super fast and easy to make. I also added some poppyseed to the vinaigrette dressing because I think it just looks really pretty! YUM!
I eat this salad a lot for lunch. Actually, like I said before...I eat a lot of salads for lunch, like my Greek Kale and Quinoa Salad and my Orange Walnut Salad with Sweet and Sour Dressing. And then sometimes, I feel like having a unique salad like my Cauliflower, Cashew and Pea Salad. All these salads pair really well with soups and sandwiches. And all my salads are gluten-free!
So, there you have it! A fabulous salad creation that you can make in 5 minutes and is super versatile so you can switch up the vinaigrette dressing base and the protein you choose (or don't choose) to add! Enjoy this yummy one and Happy Eats!
Pear and Goat Cheese Bistro Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- ½ Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Mango Vinaigrette, or your favorite flavor of balsamic vinaigrette
- 1 ½ Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive-Oil
- ½ teaspoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon poppyseeds
Salad
- 6 cups mixed salad greens
- ½ pear, sliced
- 20 green grapes, halved
- ¼ cup goat cheese
- ¼ red onion, thin sliced
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients together in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
- Combine all salad ingredients together in a big bowl and toss to combine.
- Slowly pour in the dressing and gently toss to combine.
Notes
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Britt @ A Lil' Sweet, Spice, & Advice
I totally pinned this recipe! Mango vinaigrette is so fabulous in homemade salad dressings, it just adds the perfect sweetness and tartness.I actually ran out awhile back, I'm going to head to the Oil & Vinegar store to buy some more so I can make your salad!
Amanda Mason
YES!! You are so right! The flavor it brings out in a salad is amazing...especially this salad! I love the Oil & Vinegar store!!
Paige
Yum...this looks so fresh! This looks like my kind of salad...I'll definitely try it out!
Amanda Mason
I hope you enjoy!
Anne Murphy
What a great combination of flavors! I've never put pear in a salad, but with the cheese... sounds just right!
Amanda Mason
I hope you'll get an opportunity to try it out! Let me know how you like it!
Jacqueline Piper | PiperCooks
What a gorgeous salad! I'm allergic to pears but I think apples might sub in nicely? I really want to try this one!
Amanda Mason
Apples would be amazing in this salad!!
Char Ferrara
I haven't heard of mango vinaigrette before but I know I would love it as it is my favorite fruit. This salad looks amazing! And it only takes just 5 minutes?? Sold!!
Amanda Mason
Mango vinaigrette is amazing! I buy mine here: https://www.oilvinegar.com/en-us/products/mango-pulp-vinegar/
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen
Such a delicious salad with some great flavors! So quick and easy to put together too!
Amanda Mason
Yes- super fast and delish!!
Ben Myhre
"Summer is wrapping up"
I can't wait for summer to get here! Around February is when I am 100% ready to get that warm weather and have a proper 'from the garden' salad.
Amanda Mason
This is a great "get from the garden salad"!!!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
The mango vinaigrette sounds so interesting here - it takes it to a new level from an ordinary balsamic and oil dressing. Love those fresh flavors!
Amanda Mason
Yes- that mango vinaigrette is delish...pair so nicely with the flavors in this salad!
Amanda
I'm crazy for sweet-savory salads like these! And goat cheese is one of my favorite cheeses - love that light tang it brings to dishes. This looks like a light salad that's big on flavor!
Amanda Mason
Super big on flavor! I hope you enjoy it!
Tasha
Thanks for sharing! These recipes look fantastic! ????????????
Amanda Mason
I am so happy to share your recipes! So many of my friends and followers love Keto!!