Pear and Gorgonzola Arugula Salad with Toasted Walnuts

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-09 · Updated 2026-06-09

A peppery arugula salad tossed with sweet pears, tangy Gorgonzola cheese, and crunchy toasted walnuts, finished with a zesty balsamic vinaigrette. This Mediterranean-inspired salad recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, pairs arugula, ripe pears, Gorgonzola cheese into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 5 cups, packed arugula
• 2 medium, thinly sliced ripe pears
• 1/2 cup, crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• 1/3 cup, toasted and roughly chopped walnuts
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Toast 1/3 cup walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned. Transfer to a plate to cool.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
3. Step 3: In a large salad bowl, combine 5 cups packed arugula, 2 thinly sliced ripe pears, 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, and the toasted walnuts. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately.