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Fresh pear spinach salad with maple lemon dressing, feta, and toasted walnuts on a white plate

Pear Spinach Salad with Maple-Lemon Mustard Dressing

A refreshing, flavorful fall salad featuring baby spinach, ripe pears, toasted nuts, and creamy cheese tossed with a maple-lemon mustard dressing.

  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2–4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1 ripe Bartlett or Bosc pear, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or pecans
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion or shallots (optional)
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Whisk together lemon juice, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl.
  2. Slowly add olive oil while whisking until the dressing emulsifies.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. In a large bowl, combine spinach, pear slices, nuts, and cheese.
  5. Add red onions or shallots if using.
  6. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss gently.
  7. Serve immediately and enjoy fresh.

Notes

  • Use honey instead of maple syrup if desired.
  • Add dried cranberries or avocado for extra texture.
  • Swap walnuts for pumpkin seeds for a nut-free version.
  • Slice pears right before serving to avoid browning.
  • Author: Jennifer
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No-cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 230
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 13g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 14g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 10mg

Keywords: pear salad, spinach salad, fall salad, lemon vinaigrette, maple dressing, vegetarian salad