Name: Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese and Pears
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 shallot minced; 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil; 2 cups arugula; 2 cups romaine lettuce (torn); 1 ripe pear (cored and cut into cubes); 2 ounces fresh goat cheese (crumbled); Fresh pomegranate seeds; 1/4 cup pistachio (toasted and chopped)

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This festive Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese and Pears is topped with pomegranate seeds and toasted pistachios. It’s perfect to serve at any holiday dinner or at brunch.

I always feel like there should be a few green veggie dishes at a holiday dinner. It makes feel better about eating a second sliver of pumpkin pie. This salad is light and simple to make. I dressed each salad serving separately with vinaigrette. Then I added the goat cheese, pomegranate seeds, and toasted pistachios.

What You’ll Need to Make This Salad

For the Balsamic Vinaigrette:

Shallot

Balsamic vinegar

Dijon mustard

Kosher salt

Black pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

For the Salad:

Arugula

Romaine lettuce

Pear – I used an Anjou pear, but you can use any pear you like

Fresh goat cheese

Fresh pomegranate seeds

Pistachios

arugula salad with pomegranates on a white plate with black rim

How To Make Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese and Pears

Here's a few tips to help you when making this salad.

pomegranates on a counter with a glass bowl filled with pomegranate seeds

How To Choose a Pomegranate

Look for pomegranates that feel heavy and are a bright, dark red — the darker the color, the sweeter the fruit. Pomegranates will last in the refrigerator for two weeks and on your countertop for about a week. Pomegranates are full antioxidants and vitamin C.

What’s The Best Way To Seed A Pomegranate?

I like to score the pomegranate four times, then place the pomegranate in a bowl of water. Pull the quarters apart while submerged, and the seeds will begin to release. The pith (the white pieces) will float to the top, and the seeds will sink to the bottom. Scoop the pith out and drain the seeds. The seeds can be refrigerated for five days or kept in the freezer for three months.

toasted pistachios being chopped with a knife on a white cutting board

How To Toast Pistachios

In this recipe, I toasted the pistachios in the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the shelled pistachios on a baking sheet with parchment paper on it. Toast the nuts for 5 – 10 minutes. You want the nuts to be lightly browned. Keep your eye on the nuts, because they can burn very quickly.

How to Make the Balsamic Vinaigrette

I used a mason jar to mix the vinaigrette. Add the shallots, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper to the jar first. Close and shake well. Stream in the oil, close the jar, and shake well again. If there’s leftover vinaigrette, it will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days.