Walnuts are the star of this delicious and healthy French salad, inspired by the many walnut-based salads I enjoyed on my recent trip to France. This salad is particularly popular in fall and winter, but you can enjoy it year-round. Late fall is the time of the walnut harvest in France, one of Europe’s leading walnut producers. The French love walnuts and eat an average of 500g each year per person (about 6 cups).
In addition to delicious walnuts, this salad is filled with grapes and pears and topped with some shaved Parmesan for added texture and flavor.
Walnut Harvest in Dordogne, France
The Dordogne Valley, located in the southwestern part of the country, is the largest producer of walnuts in France. Nestled between the larger cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse, this region is a foodie paradise with wonderful markets filled with locally grown produce, magnificent castles, and lovely scenery.
Dordogne, walnut capital of France
In addition to walnuts, Dordogne is famous for its fine produce, wines, and truffles. Walnut super fans can visit the Walnut Museum in Saillac.
Of course, you don’t need walnuts, grapes, or pears grown in France to enjoy this delicious salad. But it is fun to think of their inspiration while you enjoy your meal!
French Salad Walnut Nutrition
One more thing to say about walnuts before we get to our recipe: they’re good for you (in moderation, of course). In addition to tasting delicious, they’re a good source of fiber, protein, Omega-3s, magnesium, and other vitamins.
Walnut Oil Salad Dressing
You can’t have a salad that features walnuts without a walnut oil-based salad dressing! Before preparing your salad, whip up a batch of this tasty salad dressing to enhance it.
To start, you need a quality walnut oil. La Tourangelle is one of the most popular brands of walnut oil in the United States. It makes artisan walnut oil from California-grown walnuts based on the traditional French recipe. In French, La Tourangelle refers to a woman from the Tours area of France, where the original La Tourangelle was founded.
French Salad with Walnuts, Grapes, and Pears
Equipment
- whisk
- salad bowl
Ingredients
Walnut Oil Vinaigrette
- 1/3 cup walnut oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- dash salt
French Salad with Walnuts
- 8 cups mixed greens
- 1 1/2 cups red grapes sliced in half
- 2 pears peeled and chopped
- 3/4 cup walnuts chopped
- 1/2 cup hard cheese such as Parmesan shaved
Instructions
- Whisk together the walnut oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, and salt. Refrigerate until cold.
- Peel and chop pears, slice grapes, and chop walnuts.
- In a large salad bowl, toss pears, grapes, and walnuts with mixed greens.
- Pour walnut oil vinaigrette over salad and toss until covered. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
11 comments
This sounds like a delicious salad recipe!
The shaved Parmesan adds such a balanced flavor to this salad. Making this again for our Christmas dinner.
What a wonderful dish! It looks filling, yet light and satisfying. I could go for this right now!
Yum! I want to make it for Christmas.
I love adding fruits and nuts to my salad.
I love how simple this salad is – yet so flavorful! Thanks!
This was easy and delicious. I didn’t even know there’s walnut oil before trying this recipe. 🙂
Loving the addition of grapes and cheese to this salad. A good salad for winter.
This salad is simple and delicious. I love the crunch from the walnuts and grapes.
[…] Recipes […]
I love walnuts and pears…this salad is right up my alley!
[…] for another type of papaya salad? Consider my Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad or my French Salad with Walnuts, Pears, and Grapes. Or try a totally different twist on the papaya salad, the Thai Green Papaya Salad […]