Vegan Arugula Pear Salad

Total time20 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time5 min

5.0

(7)

This salad is the kind of dish that looks like it came from a fancy bistro but comes together in under 20 minutes with a handful of pantry staples. Peppery baby arugula gets topped with juicy sliced pear, chewy dried cranberries, and the real showstopper — maple-candied walnuts that you make yourself in a single skillet in just a few minutes. The homemade vinaigrette ties everything together with a bright, tangy hit of apple cider vinegar balanced by a touch of maple syrup and Dijon mustard, and it's completely plant-based without any substitutions required. Salads like this are often derailed by honey-based dressings or cheese toppings, but every component here is naturally free of animal products, so there's nothing to swap or second-guess. It serves four, making it a great starter for a dinner party or a satisfying lunch on its own. The candied walnuts are genuinely addictive — sweet, salty, and just a little sticky — and they add a satisfying crunch that makes this feel like a full, composed dish rather than an afterthought side salad.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the salad

5 oz baby arugula
2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced
⅓ cup dried cranberries

For the candied walnuts

1 cup walnut halves
2 tbsp maple syrup
¼ tsp fine salt

For the vinaigrette

3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp dijon mustard
¼ tsp fine salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

1
Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the walnut halves and maple syrup, stirring to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3–4 minutes until the syrup thickens and the walnuts are glossy and lightly caramelized — watch closely, as the syrup can burn quickly. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt, then spread the walnuts in a single layer on a plate or piece of parchment to cool completely, about 5 minutes.
2
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp salt, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.

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