Pear Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

Name: Pear, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ½ cup canned whole-berry cranberry sauce; ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice ((about 1 orange)); 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon granulated white sugar; 1 teaspoon minced and peeled fresh ginger; ¼ teaspoon salt; 8 cups mixed greens; 2 cups peeled and sliced pear or apple ((about 2)); ⅓ cup (2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese or gorgonzola; 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts, (toasted)

By Lori Lange

4.25 from 4 votes

Nov 29, 2022

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This Pear Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette is a fantastic fall salad recipe.

pear walnut and blue cheese salad in bowl

I have plenty of fall salad recipes, and I even have a salad recipe with a cranberry vinaigrette. But this salad is just super simple and delicious. The salad itself is made of just four ingredients. And the cranberry vinaigrette has flavors of orange and balsamic vinegar in it too!

ingredients displayed for making pear walnut blue cheese salad

Ingredients needed:

whole berry cranberry sauce
freshly squeezed orange juice
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
white sugar
fresh ginger
salt
mixed greens
pear
blue cheese
chopped, toasted walnuts

cranberry vinaigrette in jar

How to make Pear Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette:

This is a super simple salad recipe. Whisk together all of the vinaigrette ingredients. The vinaigrette can be made ahead of time, and refrigerate until ready to use (up to one week ahead).

pear walnut and blue cheese salad in abowl

When ready to serve, add the salad greens, pear, cheese and walnuts to a bowl. Add the desired amount of vinaigrette, and toss. You may not wish to use all of the vinaigrette. It depends on how heavily you like your salad dressed. Plate individual servings. Enjoy!

Substitution suggestions:

Use any type of salad greens you’d like.
Gorgonzola cheese or feta cheese can be substituted for the blue cheese.
Use canned cranberry sauce or homemade.
Try using apple in place of pear.

pear walnut and blue cheese salad on plate with fork

How to toast walnuts:

It’s easy to toast walnuts on the stove. In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat the walnuts until browned and fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 2 to 5 minutes.