Pear, rocket and parmesan salad

Pear and rocket salad is the perfect entertaining dish

For a fresh and vibrant side dish to pair with your main course, this rocket and pear salad is a must-make. Combining the crisp sweetness of ripe pears with peppery, mustard-like flavours of rocket and the strong nuttiness of parmesan cheese, this 15-minute salad is proof you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to create a delicious dish.

Great as a side salad to serve eight people, this rocket salad is best for BBQs, long lunches with family and friends, or at dinnertime when you’re craving something fresh, sweet and zingy. Pair this homemade pear salad with grilled meats or seafood such as lamb loin chops, a stuffed turkey roll or barbecued salmon parcels.

Choosing the best pears for a rocket pear salad

There are several pear varieties grown and available in Australia. These include Beurré Bosc, Corella, Packham, William Bartlett and more. The type of pears you use for this pear, parmesan and rocket salad will be dependent on what’s in season and your personal preference. 

Beurré Bosc pears have a beautiful buttery and sweet flavour. Corella are fragrant and juicy, while Packham and William Bartlett pears are both sweet, juicy and rich. Regardless of the variant, be sure to choose crisp and crunchy pears that are firm to the touch, as any that are overripe can become mushy. To ripen pears, place them in a paper bag and keep them at room temperature.

If you’re wondering how to cut a pear, wash and core it before taking a sharp knife and thinly slicing lengthways with the skin still on. If you have access to one, you can also choose to use a mandolin to achieve even, thin pieces. For more sweet and savoury ideas, check out our collection of easy pear recipes. 

The must-have ingredients for a pear and rocket salad

The beauty of this rocket salad recipe is you only need six ingredients, so it’s the perfect dish to hero the simple but delicious flavours of Australian pears drizzled with a balsamic glaze. Rocket’s peppery, delicate leaves complement the fruitiness of sliced pears and the sharpness of shaved parmesan for the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

Depending on what you have available and your flavour preference, you can choose to add baby spinach leaves, replace the pine nuts for walnuts or swap parmesan cheese for pecorino for a creamier taste. You can even add sliced green apples for extra sweetness and crunch to make this pear and parmesan salad your own. 

Dressing ideas for a rocket and pear salad

For our pear salad recipe, we use a simple dressing of olive oil and balsamic glaze. The olive oil adds richness, while the balsamic glaze brings sweetness and tanginess. We follow a 2:1 ratio of olive oil to balsamic glaze, but you can choose to make a larger batch if you’re increasing the size of the salad, or making the dressing ahead of time so you can use it for meal prep lunches. 

You can also choose to dress your rocket and parmesan salad with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette, lemon and herb dressing, a raspberry-chilli dressing, or with a simple squeeze of fresh lemon with salt and pepper.