Crunchy Pear & Celery Salad

From EatingWell: October/November 2006

Crisp pears are tossed with Cheddar cheese and pecans in this delicious salad. For an Italian twist, try a good Parmesan with some toasted pine nuts or to go British use crumbled Stilton and toasted walnuts.

READER'S COMMENT:

"Pretty good but eat it right away so the pears don't get mushy. "

Makes: 6 servings, 1 cup each

Active Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Nutrition Profile

View Our Nutrition Guidelines »

Ingredients

4 stalks celery, trimmed and cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons cider, pear, raspberry or other fruit vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 ripe pears, preferably red Bartlett or Anjou, diced
1 cup finely diced white Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (see Tip)
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
6 large leaves butterhead or other lettuce

Preparation

Soak celery in a bowl of ice water for 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
Whisk vinegar, honey and salt in a large bowl until blended. Add pears; gently stir to coat. Add the celery, cheese and pecans; stir to combine. Season with pepper. Divide the lettuce leaves among 6 plates and top with a portion of salad. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare salad without pecans up to 2 hours ahead. Stir in pecans just before serving.

Tip: To toast chopped pecans, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving: 215 calories; 13 g fat ( 5 g sat , 4 g mono ); 20 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrates; 5 g protein; 4 g fiber; 240 mg sodium; 219 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Calcium (15% daily value)

Carbohydrate Servings: 1

More From EatingWell

Protein-Packed Dinner Recipes

Recharge after a long day or intense workout with one of our...

Healthy Memorial Day Recipes

This Memorial Day, throw a barbecue or picnic with these...

Thai Chicken Recipes

Try making Thai at home with these easy Thai chicken recipes...

Thai Vegetarian Recipes

The flavors of Thai food, including red curry, peanut butter...
Thanksgiving Drink Recipes

If you need new ideas for drinks to serve at Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving Casseroles That Won’t Pack on the Pounds

Casseroles, such as sweet potato casserole and green bean...

Healthy Ricotta Recipes

Ricotta isn’t just for lasagna and cannoli. With these...

Healthy Fish Taco Recipes

Take a break from classic taco fillings and try making a...
Easy Wild Rice Recipes

Use wild rice in a variety of healthy side dishes, including...

Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipes

Stuffing a chicken breast is relatively simple, but your...

Easy Cornbread Recipes

Cornbread is a Southern favorite, whether served hot out the...

Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

Whether you enjoy tried-and-true flavors or like to...
Healthy Strawberry-Rhubarb Recipes

Strawberries and rhubarb are a match made in heaven and...

Healthy Salmon Fillet Recipes

Cooking salmon at home is easy with our healthy salmon fillet...

Healthy Muffin Tin Recipes

Muffin tins are great for making more than just muffins,...

Thanksgiving Potato Recipes

No Thanksgiving dinner table is complete without a bowl of...