Pear Almond Arugula Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette #SundaySupper

This is a gorgeous salad, with a bit of everything, the kind of salad that is good on the waist and also good for you. Fresh pears used two ways, peppery arugula, toasted almonds, only two plump medjool dates, a bit of good asiago cheese and a wonderful honey mustard vinaigrette.

After very decadent weeks in this kitchen, which included focaccia with roasted grapes, creamy chocolate ice cream with cherries, triple chocolate peanut clusters, fantastic berry pancakes and the most decadent dessert with dulce de leche and puff pastry, this salad is a welcome idea.

This week´s theme, hosted by the wonderful Sunithi of Sue´s Nutrition Buzz, almost made me back off from the Sunday Supper table, since I thought it was low-fat recipes, which I have absolutely nothing against, as long as they are naturally low in fat, like eating a ripe pear as opposed to stuffing yourself with fat-free rice cakes, or using a ton of light cheese instead of a small amount of a good, tasty one.
Nothing personal, it´s the way I think after being on both sides of the story.

But I might add before this turns into a rant about diets, that today´s theme is about not only light recipes but also healthy or gluten free or carb free or whatever we feel is a good option to lead a better life.

Moderation is key. I don´t believe in extremes when it comes to any type of diet, not just to loose weight, and unless there´s a medical condition involved, it´s the only way I can be happy both with myself and my body. Not that I can put it into practice all the time either.
Oh, I´ve had my share of perpetually-unhappy-with-my-body-I-need-to-drop-ten-pounds years, which is not hard to understand given the fact that my mother allowed me to go on the scarsdale diet (hello 80´s!) with her at age 13, or was that 12?

Well-being and food are so intimately related it´s hard to think that going against what my body wants and needs will get me somewhere. Well, that´s the tricky part, the body wants and needs very little compared to what my mind, senses and in many cases laziness believe it wants.

The eternal balance is hard when it comes to food, simply because we cannot do without. And it´s fairly cheap compared to other ways of filling the dark holes we have in our lives.

Arugula is one green leaf I´m freaking crazy about. Crazy, might as well put it on everything from pasta to soups, salads to sandwiches. It just goes with almost everything. So my plate is made entirely with arugula. You can very well mix it with various lettuces and watercress.

The rest of the ingredients, as well as the dressing, are used to balance the whole dish. If you go easy on the dates, almonds and cheese, use good quality ingredients where the flavor is pronounced, the reality is that a small amount goes a long way.

The dressing has mustard  and a few tablespoons of honey which add so much flavor and another layer of richness. This way I can have a nutritious, healthy and very satisfying salad that feels the opposite of restraint.

PEAR ARUGULA ALMOND SALAD WITH HONEY MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

I prepared the salad on a platter to take to the table. You can also prepare it directly on two plates.
I half peeled the pear, you can do whatever you want.

Ingredients

3 cups arugula

2 Tbs thinly sliced shallots

1 pear (I used Bartlett)

2 medjool dates, chopped into little pieces

1.5 oz asiago cheese, sliced with a potato peeler

2 Tbs chopped almonds

Vinaigrette:

2 Tbs balsamic vinegar

2 Teaspoons dijon mustard

1 Tbs honey

1/3 to ½ cup olive oil

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the vinaigrette:

In a jar with lid, mix vinegar, mustard, honey and some salt. Slowly add oil while mixing well. Add pepper and check for seasonings. Refrigerate while you prepare salad.

For the salad:

In a bowl dress arugula with three tablespoons of vianigrette. Mound arugula on center of platter. Scatter shallot on top.

Cut pear in half and scoop out the centres. Dice one half, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a medium skillet and cook pear cubes for about 2 minutes, until beginning to brown. Reserve.

Slice the remaining pear and add it to the platter.

Scatter half the chopped almonds on top of the arugula. Add the shaved asiago cheese. Scatter the date pieces and remaining almonds on top of cheese and pears.

Finally add the pear cubes.

Serves 2.

Just take a look at what we have made for you today:

Sizzling Skinny Appetizers & Soups

• Napa Cabbage wrapped Chinese Spring Rolls by Small Wallet Big Appetite
• #DairyFree Cream of Broccoli Soup by Galactosemia in PDX
• Easy Vegan Lentil Soup by NeighborFood
• Spicy Asian Chicken Noodle Soup by Food Lust People Love
• Tomato Basil Soup by No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
• Skinny Beef Chili by Webicurean

Healthy Skinny Mains & Sides

• Chicken with Herb Tomatoes and Pan Sauce by Hezzi D’s Books & Cooks
• Kale Salad with Pomegranates, Apples and Walnuts by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• Skinny Salad Wraps by MamaMommyMom
• Mashed Cauliflower by Supper for a Steal
• Lamb Florentine Burger with Tzatziki by Country Girl in the Village
• Skinny Avocado Egg Salad Wraps by The Daily Dish Recipes
• Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad by Family Foodie
• Parchment-Poached Salmon by Simply Gourmet
• Maddy’s Arugula Salad by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Cauliflower Pizza by Cravings of a Lunatic
• Light chicken enchiladas by My Cute Bride
• Pear Almond Arugula Salad with Honey Vinaigrette by Vintage Kitchen
• Pasta Primavera by Crazy Foodie Stunts
• Cauliflower Fried Rice by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Ahi Tuna Salad by The Urban Mrs
• Soba Noodles with Edamame and Green Onions by Hip Foodie Mom
• Scallops Hong Kong Style by Magnolia Days
• Slow Cooker Pork and Green Chile Stew by Momma’s Meals
• Roasted Garlic, Chicken & Herb White Pizza by Dinners Dishes and Desserts
• Polynesian Salad with Pineapple Vinaigrette by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Herb Roasted Salmon with Steamed Cabbage & Peas by The Lovely Pantry
• Turkey and Black Bean Taco Burgers by In The Kitchen With K P
• Salmon Tikka Wraps with Cucumber Raita by Soni’s Food
• Whole wheat pasta with Spicy Roasted Cauliflower by Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
• Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs by I Run For Wine
• Chipotle Black Bean Burgers with Baked Garlic Home Fries by Curious Cuisiniere
• The Ninja Baker’s Sake & Miso Salmon by Ninja Baking
• Roasted Sweet Potato, Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers with Parsnip Fries by Gourmet Drizzles
• Slow Cooker Chicken and Smoked Sausage Cassoulet by The Weekend Gourmet
• Cumin Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots by Mangoes and Chutney
• Italian Sub Salad by Diabetic Foodie
• Swiss Chard and Quinoa Croquettes by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Broccoli Patties with Arugula and Champagne Vinaigrette by Sustainable Dad
• Raw Kale Salad with Chickpeas and Salmon in Orange Dressing by Shockingly Delicious
• Greek Yogurt Egg Salad Sandwich by Damn Delicious
• Confetti Cabbage and Salmon Wraps by The Roxx Box
• Escarole and Beans by Midlife Roadtrip
• Cajun Black Beans by Ruffles and Truffles
• Caprese salad by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
• Skinny Wholegrain Fettuccine Alfredo with Greek Yogurt & Coconut Oil by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz

Guilt Free Skinny Desserts & Snacks

• Chocolate Avocado Cake by Gotta Get Baked
• Tiramisu Parfaits by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Sugar Free Banana Almond Muffins by What Smells So Good?
• Strawberry Coconut Cinnamon Buns by Juanita’s Cocina
• Warm Apple Crumble by Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Dark Chocolate-Dipped Apricots by girlichef
• Homemade Protein Bar Recipe by Masala Herb
• Skinny Chocolate Almond Pudding by Basic N Delicious

Wine Pairing Recommendations for Skinny Sunday Supper by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. 
We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. This week we will be sharing out special skinnified recipes! 
Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. 
Follow the#SundaySupper hash tag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. 
Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Join us Around the Family Table this Sunday at 7pm Eastern Time and share your favorite healthy recipes with us!