This Pear and Fennel Salad is a bright, crunchy, high-fiber meal prep salad with beans, fresh herbs, and a simple lemon dijon dressing.
If you're craving something fresh, light, and crunchy, this Pear and Fennel Salad is such a good one to have in your rotation. I love meal prep salads like my Crunchy Dill Pickle Salad and my Green Goddess Salad that don't get soggy after day one, and using a coleslaw base instead of delicate greens makes this one hold up perfectly in the fridge!
The combination of sweet pears, crisp fennel, fresh dill, and beans gives this salad a really nice balance of flavours and textures. It's bright and refreshing, but still satisfying thanks to the navy beans and edamame. The lemon dijon dressing ties everything together with just enough tang and sweetness to make every bite feel light and flavourful.
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Meal prep option. This salad holds up really well in the fridge for several days, thanks to the slaw base and sturdy veggies, making it perfect for make-ahead lunches.
- High in fiber. Between the pears, beans, edamame, and veggies, this salad is packed with fiber to help keep you full and satisfied.
- Fresh, light flavours. The combination of fennel, dill, lemon, and pear keeps this salad bright and refreshing, while still feeling balanced and nourishing.
Pear and Fennel Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Pears. I recommend Bosc or Bartlett pears for the perfect blend of sweetness and firmness!
Beans. For the fiber and protein in this recipe we are adding white navy beans and edamame beans!
Green onions. For a mild onion flavour we use both the green and white parts of one bunch of green onions!
Coleslaw mix. For convenience I love using coleslaw mix as a non-soggy base for salads! You can use cabbage slaw, broccoli slaw or kale slaw!
Fennel. The perfect fresh ingredient to really bring the flavours of this salad together. Fennel is typically in season in Canada through the fall until early spring!
Fresh dill. This is really the KEY to adding freshness to this salad! I do not recommend substituting with dry dill.
Red onion. Originally I was not going to add red onion to this salad as there is already green onion- however I decided to add it for a little extra bite!
Lemon dijon dressing. For the dressing we combine dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil. Garlic powder, lemon juice, salt and black pepper.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine pears, navy beans, edamame beans, green onions, coleslaw mix, fennel, fresh dill and red onion.
- To make the dressing combine dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder,honey, lemon juice and salt and black pepper in a bowl. Whisk well.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
Substitutions and Variations
This salad is naturally nut free, gluten free, vegan and dairy free!
Feel free to make this salad your own! Some variations you can try:
- Coleslaw mix: shredded cabbage, or even arugula (for a non meal prep friendly version)
- Get creative: for added protein add cooked quinoa, chopped or shredded chicken or even sliced steak
- For an elevated salad: serve with freshly shredded aged cheddar cheese, gargonzola or feta
- For an even more filling option: add cooked orzo or couscous for a carbohydrate heavy base
Equipment
Storage
These pear and fennel salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days!
Top Tips for Success
This salad is easily customizable! Add cucumbers, chopped broccoli, feta cheese, chopped chicken, or even cooked quinoa or couscous!
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be either! On its own, it works great as a light lunch. You can also serve it as a side with chicken, fish, or tofu.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be either! On its own, I recommend adding protein like cooked quinoa, chopped or shredded chicken or sliced steak!
More Salad Recipes
If you liked this pear and fennel salad, try these recipes:
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this pear and fennel salad, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Pear and Fennel Salad
Ingredients
- 2 bosc pears, diced
- 1 540 ml can white navy beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups edamame beans
- 1 bunch green onions, sliced thinly
- 1 bag coleslaw mix
- 1 cup fennel, chopped thinly
- ½ cup fresh dill, chopped
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
For the dressing combine:
- 4 tablespoon dijon mustard
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon honey
- ½ lemon, just the juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine pears, navy beans, edamame beans, green onions, coleslaw mix, fennel, fresh dill and red onion.
- To make the dressing combine dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder,honey, lemon juice and salt and black pepper in a bowl. Whisk well.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
Nicole Addison says
A recipe perfect for spring!! With 7 grams of fiber PER serving- this a recipe you are going to want ot meal prep! Enjoy!