Topped with blue cheese and chopped walnuts, this four-ingredient arugula pear salad drizzled with tahini dressing is so quick to throw together, yet the combination of sweet and salty flavors and crunchy and soft textures proves that simple can be phenomenal.

Topped with blue cheese and chopped walnuts, this four-ingredient arugula pear salad drizzled with tahini dressing is so quick to throw together, yet the combination of sweet and salty flavors and crunchy and soft textures proves that simple can be phenomenal.

If you ask me, there are three things a salad should be: easy to throw together (with minimal prep), assembled with a variety of textures, and tossed in a mouthwatering dressing. I believe this arugula pear salad with tahini dressing hits all of those points.

Although there are only four ingredients in this pear salad—arugula, blue cheese, chopped walnuts, and thinly sliced pears—the combination of sweet and salty flavors and crunchy and soft textures proves that simple can be phenomenal.

Tahini Dressing

The tahini dressing for this pear salad is flavorful but simple too. You can make it in under two minutes. For the base, I’ve used tahini paste, which offers a subtle, nutty taste. Adding garlic and lemon also give it a Mediterranean vibe. If you have any fresh herbs on hand, feel free to add those. I find that parsley and/or cilantro can really kick the flavors up a notch.

Although salads have a reputation for being a health food, it all depends on the dressing and the quality of ingredients you use. For example, store-bought and restaurant salad dressings are typically made with low-grade oils, like soybean oil or heavily processed vegetable oil, which are known to promote inflammation due to their extremely high omega 6 content. Also, the nuts in store-bought or restaurant salads are often soaked in cane sugar and more vegetable oil. Sneaky, right?

Topped with blue cheese and chopped walnuts, this four-ingredient arugula pear salad drizzled with tahini dressing is so quick to throw together, yet the combination of sweet and salty flavors and crunchy and soft textures proves that simple can be phenomenal.

This is why I recommend finding a salad and dressing recipe you love to make at home, so you can avoid unnecessary and harmful ingredients. This tahini dressing doesn’t even need oil, as tahini is made from sesame seeds, which contain healthy fats and are already oily enough on their own. And here’s a fun fact: the 1/3 cup of tahini paste in this dressing provides you with nearly 50% of your daily recommended calcium intake.

Now, for the recipe.

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Topped with blue cheese and chopped walnuts, this four-ingredient arugula pear salad drizzled with tahini dressing is so quick to throw together, yet the combination of sweet and salty flavors and crunchy and soft textures proves that simple can be phenomenal.

Arugula Pear Salad with Tahini Dressing

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  • Author: Sharon Chen
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Topped with blue cheese and chopped walnuts, this four-ingredient arugula pear salad drizzled with tahini dressing is so quick to throw together, yet the combination of sweet and salty flavors and crunchy and soft textures proves that simple can be phenomenal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pears, cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 (4-5 oz) bag arugula
  • 2 tablespoons blue cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

For the Tahini dressing:

  • 1/3 cup tahini sesame paste
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • Salt to taste
  • Water to thin (3-6 tablespoons)
  • Freshly chopped parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare and place pear, arugula, blue cheese and walnuts in a large bowl.
  2. Make the tahini dressing. In a medium mixing bowl, add tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Whisk to combine. Then slowly add water a little at a time, continue whisking until creamy and pourable. Depending on how thick your tahini is, you might need more or less water.
  3. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more lemon juice or salt.
  4. Pour 1/4 cup tahini dressing into the salad bowl and toss. Enjoy!

Notes

The tahini dressing recipe yields about ¾  cup. Store the leftover dressing in the refrigerator for up to five days (sometimes even longer). This dressing is fantastic on things like kale salad, lentil salad, healthy quinoa bowl, or pasta.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 218
  • Sugar: 6.7g
  • Sodium: 1264.8mg
  • Fat: 16g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.1g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.5g
  • Fiber: 3.9g
  • Protein: 7.3g
  • Cholesterol: 3.2mg

About the Author

Sharon Chen, StreetSmart Kitchen
Sharon Chen

Sharon Chen is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, an author and a sous vide fanatic who believes food not only brings healing but also connection. As the creator of StreetSmart Kitchen, she's on a mission to help you find balance, ease, joy, and simplicity in the kitchen as you improve your well-being.