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Asian Pear–Shiso Salad With Quinoa

4.2

(7)

Asian PearShiso Salad With Quinoa recipe

This layered winter salad is a study in delightful textures: Crisp and juicy Asian pear is served over creamy Greek yogurt—enhanced with honey, lime juice, and black sesame paste (or tahini) for nuttiness and complexity—and finished with a shower of quinoa. It’s inspired by the Asian pear–stuffed shiso leaves that are a frequent appetizer at Danielle Bell and Pablo Osorio’s de Porres Dinner Series events and private chef gigs.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    2 servings

Ingredients

Kosher salt

⅓

cup quinoa

1

scallion, white and pale green parts finely chopped, dark green parts thinly sliced

1

small red Thai chile, finely chopped

1

Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar

2

tsp. fresh lime juice, divided

2

tsp. honey, divided

1

medium Asian pear, thinly sliced

½

medium cucumber, halved lengthwise, sliced ¼" thick

⅓

cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt

1

tsp. black sesame paste or tahini

4

shiso leaves or ¼ cup mint leaves, torn into small pieces

Sesame seeds (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add quinoa, return to a boil, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 12–15 minutes. Drain; set aside.

    Step 2

    Whisk together white and pale green scallion parts, chile, vinegar, 1 tsp. lime juice, and 1 tsp. honey in a large bowl. Add pear and cucumber; toss to coat. Season with salt; let salad sit 15 minutes.

    Step 3

    Meanwhile, whisk yogurt, sesame paste, a pinch of salt, remaining 1 tsp. lime juice, and remaining 1 tsp. honey in a small bowl until smooth.

    Step 4

    Just before serving, toss salad with dark green scallion parts and shiso. Spread yogurt mixture over a shallow bowl. Using tongs, mound salad on top, leaving behind any liquid in bowl. Scatter sesame seeds and reserved quinoa over.

Explore Bon AppétitDinnerLunchEasySaladVegetarianNut-FreeGluten-FreeHealthyishAsian PearFruitQuinoaRice & GrainsYogurtSideWinter
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Reviews (7)

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  • Wow, this was a stunner! Didn't change a thing, was an amazing start to a meal tonight - will absolutely make again!

    • kmarxmarx

    • chicago, il

    • 2/15/2023

  • Textures were interesting, the combination of thai chilis and pear was great, but the amount of honey made the dish take overly sweet (and the yogurt-tahini combination resembled some kind of mayonnaise). In the future, I'd lean more towards a vinegar dressing for the salad, with a tahini base [without yogurt]. but some great components!

    • Anonymous

    • 1/31/2022