This is a salad that combines flavors that are meant for one another. It is just delectable!
6 oz. baby arugula
1/3 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted whole or coarsely chopped
4 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup finely chopped purple onion
2 firm unpeeled pears cut lengthwise into eighths (core removed)
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar
Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add sliced pears and toss around to coat in butter. Not stirring, cook until browned nicely on one side then add sugar. Toss around to distribute sugar and flip pears. Cook until pears are browned well on both sides and just tender, then remove from heat (don’t let them go to mush!). Toss arugula and onion in desired amount of dressing then divide among four serving bowls/plates. Top each plate with four pear slices, a sprinkle of cheese, walnuts, and freshly cracked pepper and serve immediately.
*In the summer substitute the caramelized pears with fresh figs, grapes, or peaches
