Baby Spinach Salad With Pears, Red Onions, Cranberries, and Toasted Hazelnuts Recipe

Updated March 11, 2019

Tender greens, juicy pears, crimson cranberries and toasted hazelnuts make a festive salad to start all those special holiday meals. Be sure to soak the onions in water as directed—it takes away the unpleasant raw onion taste.

Recipe adapted from The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan

Recipe Details

Baby Spinach Salad With Pears, Red Onions, Cranberries, and Toasted Hazelnuts Recipe

Total 20 mins

Serves 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
2 teaspoons sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Salad:

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries
8 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, stemmed if needed
2 firm but ripe pears (do not peel), quartered lengthwise, cored and cut into long, thin slices
2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

Directions

To make the dressing, in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and sugar. Cover tightly and shake to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Place the onions in a medium bowl and cover with water. Let stand for 30 minutes. Drain well and pat dry on paper towels.
To assemble the salad, place the spinach, onions, and pears in a large bowl. Give the dressing a last-minute shake and pour, little by little, over the salad until greens are adequately dressed. Toss to coat evenly, then taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper. Arrange the salad in a large serving bowl and scatter the cranberries and hazelnuts over the top. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
359	Calories
27g	Fat
30g	Carbs
4g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	359
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g	35%
Saturated Fat 3g	16%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 151mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate 30g	11%
Dietary Fiber 5g	18%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 15mg	77%
Calcium 71mg	5%
Iron 2mg	12%
Potassium 445mg	9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.