Southern Pear Salad Recipe
Pear Salad
Easy to follow, step-by-step, photo illustrated recipe shows you how to make this easy Pear Salad with mayonnaise. Printable recipe included.
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Pear Salad is a southern classic, and so very easy to make.
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At first glance, this may seem like a strange combination of ingredients, especially if you’ve never heard of it. But, it’s very tasty. You just have to try it first.
The slight saltiness of the cheese, mixed with the sweetness of the pear and the cherry on top, plus the bit of mayonnaise, make for a unique taste experience that’s hard to describe. Smile.
This was a quick dish that my wife liked to make. And, she made it often.
I was reminded of it when I took a bite out of a fresh pear a few days back. I hadn’t had one in some time and it brought back great memories of having this pear salad years ago.
The name might throw you, because it’s not really a salad like we often think of salads. I’m not even sure why it’s called a salad. Smile.
Canned pears are needed, and that’s what makes it so quick and easy. You’ll see the rest in the photo’s below. Just be aware that there are only a couple of small halves in each can this size. You can easily double the recipe if needed.
There is no baking, no cooking, nothing but assembly. Make it just before you’re ready to serve it or the red liquid from the cherry on top will run out on the mayonnaise. Doesn’t bother the taste, just the way it looks. Smile
Ready to give it a try? Alright then, let’s head out to the kitchen, and… Let’s Get Cooking!
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Easy Pear Salad Recipe – You’ll need these ingredients.
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Grate just a small amount of cheddar cheese.
I like to buy the blocks of cheddar and grate my own. Those packages of pre-grated cheese come with a little bit of cornstarch on the cheese to keep it from sticking together. It also seems to be a bit harder in texture. You don’t need much.
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Drain the juice off of the canned pears. Discard the juice.
Place the pear halves on a plate, then add just a dollop of mayonnaise on each half.
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Sprinkle just a little of the grated cheese on top of the mayonnaise.
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Place one maraschino cherry on top of each pear half. You’re done!
How much easier can it get?
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Enjoy!
Place the pears on a bed of lettuce and serve cold.
If you don’t have a head of lettuce, you could just pretend you do by picking out the green pieces of lettuce that come in one of those bags of shredded lettuce for about a dollar. Like me.
I was trying to make it look better. Smile.
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Southern Pear Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 - 3 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Pear salad isn’t a real salad in the sense that you might be thinking of. It’s just a classic Southern side dish that is super easy to make. Tastes great too.
Ingredients
1 can Pear Halves
3 teaspoons of Mayonnaise ( approximately)
3 teaspoons grated Cheddar Cheese
Maraschino Cherries, one for each pear half
Instructions
Drain the juice from the pear halves. Discard the juice.
Grate the cheddar cheese if needed.
Place pear halves on a serving plate.
Add a small dollop of the mayonnaise to each pear half.
Sprinkle a small amount of cheese on top of the mayo.
Add a maraschino cherry to the top of the cheese and mayo.
Serve cold.
Enjoy!
Notes
A great kid friendly recipe that can be made in just a couple of minutes.
Keywords: easy pear salad, southern pear salad, pear salad with mayo, southern side dishes
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Your Comments:
Have you ever tried this type of Pear Salad? Think you will?
Share your memories of this great Southern dish with us. It will only take a minute or two for you to leave your comments in the section below.
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Be Blessed!!!
Steve
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You might also like: Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Apples
How about this? Apple Butter Recipe
Maybe this one: Banana Bread with Crumb Topping
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Category: Salads
Errrmmmgggg, I should make a blog! All of grandma’s food (she didn’t have recipes) It would be Epic!
I’ve enjoyed this treat ever since I was a child. In fact , it’s on my menu for supper tonight. My pears and cherries are chilling in the refrigerator right now.
★★★★★
My great aunt made this salad for special occasions back in the ‘50s. Seeing this recipe reminded me of her. Warm thoughts of her and the holidays.
Hi Linda, I’m happy we could bring back some good memories for you with the Pear Salad Recipe. I hope you and your’s have a great Thanksgiving. I appreciate your visits and hope you’ll stop by again… real soon. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
My mother made this frequently with Sunday lunch when I was growing up, and it brings back sweet memories! She would usually have wet battered fried chicken and fresh corn and butterbeans from her garden as well as creamed potatoes. Haven’t had it since I was a child, so I’ll be making it soon. Thanks for the wonderful reminder!
★★★★★
Steve,
You bring up so many great memories. My Moma use to make this. I haven’t had it since. I have an abundance of fresh pears from my tree. I’m going to cook some and make this.
Another memory was you mentioning the Thanksgiving hog butchering. I have great memories of that as well. I never watched the slaughter but I helped make sausage. It was a family reunion and everyone took home some fresh meat.
Thank you
Hi Ann, I’m glad we can stir up some good memories for you. The Pear Salad is so simple and easy. I bet it will be even better made with those fresh pears. Smile. I’m glad you’ve had the chance to experience the “hog killings” as we called them. It was just a way of life, but I’m proud to have grown up that way myself. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving. I appreciate your visits and do hope you’ll stop by again… real soon. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
Your recipes bring back great memories! My Mother made these for us a lot and my sisters and I loved them. I still make them because they are delicious, easy and I always have the ingredients. I may have one today! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Sandra, I do hope you had some of these on your Thanksgiving table today. I’m glad we can bring back some memories for you through our recipes. I’m thankful for all of your visits and your support. Happy Thanksgiving, and when you get rested up from that big meal, visit with us again. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
I first had pear salad back in 2005. I was living in Columbus, GA at the time and a dear, sweet lady at church had me over for lunch one Sunday afternoon. I was very skeptical… I wasn’t sure what to think of the combination of ingredients, but not wanting to hurt Ms. Laura’s feelings…I dove in. And guess what? I was pleasantly surprised! It’s really good. Thank you for sharing this Mr. Steve. It brings back very fond memories of my dear friend!
Hi Pam, It does seem like a strange combination, but as you said, it really is good. We just never know until we try it. Smile. I’m happy we could bring back some good memories for you with the recipe. I always appreciate your visits and hope you’ll continue to visit with us often. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
Just a note about Pear Salad- My Mom also made this along with either a pear or canned peach version – instead of the mayo and cheddar, she used a small spoonful of Cream Cheese in the center of the fruit and served it on lettuce leaves. it’s yummy but I don’t think to fix it very often.
Now Im going to look up a recipe for Green Bean Casserole on your web site. It’s my assigned recipe for our Thanksgiving dinner party. It would be easy except
there are no mushrooms allowed due to a food allergy.
A very HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU! Hope you are feeling well enough to enjoy yourself.
Hi Judi, I’ll have to try your peach and cream cheese version soon. That sounds good too. Smile. I hope you found the Green Bean Casserole recipe. It’s been the the most viewed recipe on Taste of Southern for 11 straight days now. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. It’s 1:40pm on this Thanksgiving Day. I hope to enjoy our family meal around 5:30pm this evening. Looking forward to it. Thank you for your kind words, I always appreciate your visits and hope you’ll continue to visit with us often. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
Good Afternoon Steve, I hope you’re doing well. I grew up with pear salad on the table a few times a week, although mama never put cherries on top. Have you tried it with sliced pineapple? It’s made the same way, I always drain and then pat with a paper towel.
I enjoy your newsletters every Monday, I look forward to them, I’ve made some of your recipes. I really loved the broccoli casserole.
I hope you have you vertigo under control, I’ve dealt with it for about 25 yrs. but I take medication that keeps it under control.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Hi Theda, I’ve never tried this with pineapple, but I’m hearing from folks that say it’s good that way too. I’ll have to try it soon. Thank you for the suggestion. My heart goes out to you if you’ve had Vertigo for 25 years. I’ve dealt with it off and on for about 6 years, but this summer has been my worse bout ever. Getting better, but still not clear of it yet. Hopefully soon. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well. I’m truly thankful to have you as a subscriber to the Newsletter and thankful that you take the time to read it. I will always be grateful for that. I appreciate your support and your visits and do hope you’ll stop by again… real soon. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
Hello Steve,
This brought back memories of this pear salad. My mom made it all the time. We loved it, of course we used Hellmann’s mayo.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!!
Debbie
★★★★★
Hi Debbie, I’m glad we could bring back some good memories for you. I myself hadn’t thought about this in years, but enjoyed having it again. Smile. You must try it with DUKE’S Mayonnaise though. Duke’s makes everything better. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving as well. I appreciate your visits and your support. Be sure to visit with us often. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
Pear salad was a childhood favorite. It was so easy to open a can of pears, spoon out mayonnaise, and grate cheese (no cherry) for a delicious treat. Thanks for the reminder.
I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving family get-together.
★★★★★
Hi Elizabeth, Happy Thanksgiving to your and yours as well. I’m trying to catch up on replying to some Comments while waiting to go to my brothers for our Thanksgiving Meal. Should be about 3 hours away, and I can hardly wait. Smile. I hope you’ll enjoy the Pear Salad again soon. Let me know if you do. I appreciate your visits and hope you’ll visit with us often. Be Blessed!!! -Steve
My mother who has now passed made this exact salad often only with pineapple slices. Never tried with pears but I will tonight. Wonder if any one else has tried with pineapple? It’s also very good. My mother had roots from SE N.C.
Hi Meme, I’m going to have to try this with pineapple soon. I’ve read a couple of comments about using that instead of the pears. I’m sure it will be delicious as well. Thank you for the suggestion, and for your visit today. I hope you’ll visit with us often. Be Blessed!!! -Steve