Asian Pear and Pomegranate Salad

This salad would make a stunning addition to any
 Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner. 

Have you tried Asian pears? They’re amazing. Sometimes called “apple pears,” they’re small apple shaped pears. A good one has the crunch of an apple, but the juiciness and flavor of a pear. They’re so incredible. 

 This combination is my favorite. The creaminess of the avocado, a bit of protein from chicken (if you like), the sweetness of the dried cherries, depth from the hazelnuts, and a bit of brightness from the pomegranate. The dressing is as simple as it gets–just a bit of balsamic and olive oil, with a bit of honey (if you like).

As is always the case with salad, these ingredients are flexible. Skip the avocado if you don’t like it. Using this as a main dish? Bump up the chicken. Vegan or doing a Whole30? Skip the drizzle of honey. If you can’t find Asian pears, ripe apples or pears would work perfectly well in this recipe.

Serves: 2-4

INGREDIENTS

For the Salad:

• 3-4 cups salad greens or spinach
• ½-1 avocado, (peel and pit removed) diced or sliced
• 1 Asian pear, (cored) sliced or diced
• ½-3/4 cup pomegranate seeds
• ¼-1/3 cup dried tart cherries (or dried cranberries, blueberries, or raisins)
• ½ cup toasted hazelnuts (almonds, or pecans)
• Optional: cooked and shredded chicken

For the Dressing:

• 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• a drizzle of honey, as desired

INSTRUCTIONS
Toss together the salad ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, and honey, if using. Toss salad in dressing and serve immediately.

Source: One Lovely Life