Basil Pear Salad Recipe (2024)

Fresh pear salad with fragrant Genoese basil leaves tossed with a honey lemon dressing and topped with candies walnuts. For a sweet and savory balance serve with a sprinkle of plant-based feta crumbles or goat cheese.

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Elevate your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with this delicious Italian style basil pear salad tossed in a citrus dressing. it’s a match made in flavor heaven that checks all the boxes and the perfect dish for all the foodies in your life.

About the Pears

Choosing the best pears you can get your hands on will truly elevate your salad. My favorite varieties would be the Yellow Bartlett pears for Thanksgiving and Red Anjou for Christmas dinner, just to stay with the seasonal colors. I’m partial to the juiciness of Bartlett but the most important detail here is that the pears are ripe but firm, not mushy. Generally I store them on the kitchen counter where they continue to ripen but as soon as you know they reached that ripe but still firm texture pop them in the fridge. Much like you would baby an avocado, there is a moment when you just know.

The Basil

A nice surprise in lieu of the more bitter dark leafy greens one would expect in a salad bowl. If you have a mixed varieties growing in containers go wild and combine them, just try to pick the youngest most tender leaves. I used both green and purple basil for a pop of unexpected color but anything you can find at the market will work.

The Salad Dressing

It’s sweet and savory and citrusy and perfect! The acid keeps the pears from oxidizing and turning brown and balances the sweetness of honey. If you can source local responsible honey from a neighbour by all means go for it. Otherwise a store bought bee-free vegan honey tastes just the same and the most environmentally and bee-friendly option. All things considered, a light maple syrup dressing is equally lovely!

Salad Variations

• Don’t fancy basil? Swap it for peppery arugula, baby greens or butter lettuce.
• The Nuts – Candied walnuts are the ultimate treat here especially for a holiday meal. For a healthier alternative toast them in a dry skillet or swap for toasted pecans, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, pomegranate seeds or dry cranberries.
• Add Poppy Seeds – Just because they are fun and add a little “je ne sais quoi” to any dressing! A Lemon Poppyseed vinaigrette is always a crowd pleaser.
• Seasonal Swaps – When pears are not in season you can go for juicy yellow peaches, nectarines, figs, mango or blood oranges. All wonderfully delicious!

Thanksgiving Recipes

• Vegetable Pot Pie
• Roasted Vegetable Salad
• Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
• Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds
• Dairy Free Scalloped Potatoes
• Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes
• Rainbow Roasted Carrots
• Butternut Squash Soup
• Italian Almond Cookies!

how to make pear salad