Winter Pear, Pomegranate & Swiss Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
A fresh and vibrant Winter Salad with Pears, Pomegranate, and Swiss Cheese, featuring the best seasonal fruit, creamy Swiss cheese, and crunchy pecans, all tossed in a homemade poppy seed dressing. This delicious salad is perfect for a holiday table, special occasions, or as a simple yet elegant side for a healthy recipe that celebrates the best fruits of the season.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 teaspoons table salt
- ⅔ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups vegetable oil
- 3 Tablespoons grated onion
- 2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
Salad
- 1 head Romaine lettuce washed and dried
- 1 pomegranate
- 1 pear (Bartlett or D'Anjou)
- ½ cup toasted pecans chopped
- 1 cup grated Swiss cheese
Instructions
Dressing
- In a medium-size pot, combine the sugar, dry mustard, salt, and apple cider vinegar over medium heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until the sugar completely dissolves, then remove from heat.1 cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, 1 teaspoons table salt, ⅔ cup apple cider vinegar
- Slowly pour the oil into the cider mixture, whisking constantly while adding. Add the grated onion and poppy seed to the warm dressing and whisk well. Pour into a large jar or divide among multiple small jars and refrigerate until chilled. Shake well before serving.2 cups vegetable oil, 3 Tablespoons grated onion, 2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
Salad
- For the salad, slice the pear into thin slices and remove the pomegranate seeds from the skin of the pomegranate. Coarsely chop the lettuce and pecans, then grate the Swiss cheese. Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl, then toss or plate each salad individually. Serve with poppy seed dressing.1 head Romaine lettuce, 1 pomegranate, 1 pear, ½ cup toasted pecans, 1 cup grated Swiss cheese
Notes
Storage & Make Ahead
- Store: Keep salad ingredients separate and refrigerate undressed for up to two days. Poppy seed dressing stays fresh for three weeks in a sealed jar.
- Freeze: The salad won’t freeze well, but the dressing can be frozen for three months. Thaw in the fridge and shake before using.
- Make Ahead: Prep the lettuce, toasted pecans, and grated Swiss cheese in advance. Store separately, and slice the pear just before serving. Dressing can be made days ahead for easy assembly.
Nutrition
Calories: 736kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 65g | Saturated Fat: 47g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 326mg | Potassium: 378mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 6937IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 1mg
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