Some of you reading this post might be thinking “I can’t imagine a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner without Pear Salad!”, others might think “What the heck is a Pear Salad and why would I consume that much mayonnaise in one sitting?”. The four simple ingredients that make up this recipe (pears, mayo, cheese and cherries) may seem like they shouldn’t even be in the same room with each other much less sharing intimate space together on the same plate, but the combination of flavors that happen when you take a bite is truly something else.
Classic Southern comfort food
Pear Salad is easy to make, it tastes great, it travels well and best of all it’s super cheap! It’s a Southern staple of potlucks, get togethers, and holiday dinners. It works great as an appetizer, a side dish or maybe, in certain company, as some kind of avant-garde dessert. Be prepared though, when you place this seminal dish down in front of a group of people don’t be surprised if you encounter a few who scoff and turn their noses up, non-Southerners might even attempt to call the police and report a ‘food crime’. If you encounter any naysayers, encourage them to at least give this unique dish a chance. If nothing else, it’ll be a great conversation starter.
Pear Salad
Ingredients
- 2canspear halves
- 1/2cupmayonnaise
- 1/3cupshredded sharp cheddar cheese (the sharper the better if you ask me)
- maraschino cherries
Instructions:
- Drain the pears and place them on your serving dish with the center side facing up.
- Spoon one dollop of mayo on top of each (roughly a tablespoon).
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of each pear.
- Top each pear with a single maraschino cherry
- Serve and enjoy!