Southern Pear Salad

Southern Pear Salad is a vintage southern comfort food dish and is the perfect appetizer or side for almost any meal.

5 from 5 votes

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Course: Salads

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings:

Author: Jennifer Stewart

Ingredients

15 ounces pear halves (in light syrup)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup cheddar cheese shredded
4-6 maraschino cherries
1/4 cup pecans toasted, chopped
4-6 lettuce cups or shredded lettuce

Instructions

Drain the can of pears, reserving the juice.
Place lettuce on the plates.
Place a pear half on each lettuce cup.
In a small bowl, combine the mayo and 3 tablespoons of reserved pear juice. Mix to combine.
Drizzle the dressing over the pear halves.
Sprinkle the pears with the cheddar cheese.
Top each one with a cherry.
Sprinkle with toasted pecans.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

My grandmother added a scoop of cottage cheese to hers to add some protein to it. You can also use Greek yogurt.

Switch up the cheese. I like a sharp cheddar but feel free to use gorgonzola cheese, feta, or blue cheese.

Some prefer to serve this salad at room temperature but I think the sweet pears taste better when they are chilled.

Try a different nut like candied walnuts, candied pecans, or dried cranberries.

This recipe is gluten free:)

Skip the simple mayo dressing and try balsamic vinaigrette instead. A light dressing of olive oil and lemon juice or balsamic vinegar will work too.

More zip? Sprinkle on some thinly sliced red onions.

For serving, you can use butter lettuce cups like this recipe or you can use a small bed of shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce or even some mixed greens.

Can be made the night before and stored in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.

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