Have you been seeing lots of pears at the market and in grocery stores lately for a great price? Pears are a winter fruit, and best when bought in season. I think pears pair great with something creamy, something fresh, and a hint of pepper and mustard, hence this lovely little salad. Esperanza dressing is another name for a creamy, mayo based Greek Dressing. This salad is great eaten on it’s own, as a side item, or as a complete meal topped with my House Rub Roasted Chicken Breasts.
For the Esperanza Dressing:
1/2 cup of mayo (either homemade or I love this healthy brand)
1 tablespoon of Organic Whole Grain Mustard
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
2 tabelspoons of organic apple juice
2 teaspoons organic granulated garlic powder (you can sub 2 cloves of fresh grated garlic for a sharper flavor)
1 1/2 teaspoons organic dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2-1 teaspoon sea salt, depending on taste
Simply whisk all ingredients together and refrigerate to marry the flavors. Keeps up to a week in the fridge.
I haven’t provided exact measurements for the ingredients of the salad because it is totally up to you and how many servings you make. In a great salad, I love fresh vegetable ingredients that I always keep on hand, like carrots, onions and cucumbers, and then a few star ingredients that are fun and seasonal, like pears. Raisins are always fun to sprinkle on top, or you could use a few sliced almonds or sunflower seeds for a nutty crunch. Walnuts also pair well with pears because their bitter notes compliment the sweetness in the pears. Start with the spinach on the bottom of the salad, and build the ingredients on top. Serve immediately with the Esperanza Dressing.
For the Pear and Spinach Salad:
Fresh Organic Baby Spinach
Organic cherry tomatoes, halved
julienne sweet yellow onions
shredded or small diced carrots
organic raisins
sliced organic cucumber
sliced pears, cores removed