Tender spiced sweet potatoes and pears, and crunchy walnuts together in a simple, delicious, and healthful side dish: Curry Pear, Sweet Potato, Walnut Salad!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you know what that means: parties, potlucks, and more! Do you want to wow your guests this year with a fun new alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving mashed potatoes? Then keep on reading!
Dessert, side, or snack
This curry pear, sweet potato & walnut salad is not only delicious but so simple to make and easy to modify to your liking! If you roast the sweet potatoes ahead of time, it makes for a quick after school snack for your kids too! The pears give it some tang, roasted sweet potatoes pack a punch of flavor and the walnuts provide a nice crunch along with some much needed healthy fats. What more could you ask for?
Pears: firm or soft?
Tip: Use a firm pear for this recipe if you don’t want a salad that’s too mushy or too sweet. Or, if a ripe pear is all you have on hand, adjust the amount of agave going into the dish as you deem necessary. This salad is incredibly easy to season as you go along to ensure you get the perfect marriage of flavors. If you are looking to make it into more of a dessert, it’s as simple as reaching for a ripe pear instead.
A versatile dish
When following the recipe as is, it makes for the perfect side dish. But if you want something more filling, just top it off with some roasted tofu, chickpeas, or quinoa. Sprinkle some chia seeds or hemp seeds on top to garnish. You could also serve it with a side of rice.
If you want to turn it into a dessert, omit the curry powder, and olive oil and instead add in some maple syrup, pumpkin spice, and dried cranberries.
You could always add in traditional salad ingredients like chopped onions, lemon juice, spinach, and avocado for added nutrition and a more colorful plate.
Perfect way to feed a crowd or party of one!
This dish is incredibly easy to meal prep or prepare in large quantities due to the limited ingredients list, so you could meal prep it in a small container with a tortilla wrap that way you have something ready for the next time you’re on-the-go. Pair it with some hummus and veggies to keep you full for longer.
Curry Pear, Sweet Potato, Walnut Salad
Serves 3
A delicious Thanksgiving side dish!
Ingredients
1 pear, sliced lengthwise
1 sweet potato, chopped
1/4 cup walnuts
3 Tbsp agave
Dash of salt
Curry powder, to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400F.
Whisk the curry, salt and agave in a medium bowl. Add the pear and potato. Toss to coat. Spoon onto a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Cook for 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Toss midway through adding the walnuts at this time. Serve warm or cool.
Author: Shruti is a current intern and recent graduate from The University of North Texas holding a bachelor’s of business administration degree in marketing. She has a passion for digital marketing, with a focus on social media, and advertising. In her free time, she enjoys baking, watching movies, and going on hikes.