Pomegranate & Pear Salad

This elegant, nutritious salad combines fresh pears, pomegranates, feta, nuts and baby spinach with a tangy apple cider vinegar and mustard dressing. Pears are a great source of fiber, vitamin C & K, copper and potassium. Copper strengthens immunity and potassium is important for muscle and heart function. Pears and pomegranates also contain anthocyanins, beneficial antioxidants that reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. Spinach is one of the healthiest vegetables that exists, rich in multiple vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It also contains high amounts of nitrates, which moderate blood pressure and decrease your risk of heart disease. You can turn this salad into a main course by adding chopped up rotisserie chicken, tofu or any protein of your choice.

Makes: 6 servings

Time to cook: 15 minutes

Ingredients

· 8 cups baby spinach leaves (or mixed greens or arugula)

· 2 large ripe pears, cored and sliced

· ½ cup pomegranate seeds

· 2 ounces crumbled goat, feta, or gorgonzola cheese

· ½ cup slivered almonds, walnuts or pistachios

Dressing

· ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or champagne vinegar)

· 3 Tablespoons olive oil

· 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

· 1½ Tablespoons honey

· Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl. 

2. Make the dressing by whisking all ingredients together. 

3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Nutrition per serving‍

Calories: 226, Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Fat: 14 g (3 g Saturated, 2 g Poly, 8 g Mono); Cholesterol: 8 mg; Fiber: 5 g; Sugar: 14g; Sodium: 151 mg; Potassium: 415 mg; Vitamin A: 3813 IU; Potassium: 415 mg; Calcium: 120 mg; Vitamin C: 16 mg.

Recipe by Lauren Allen (https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/pear-pomegranate-salad/)