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Bon Appétit

Pear and Avocado Salad With Tajín

5.0

(2)

Tangy pear salad in a hexagon shaped wooden bowl
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Stephanie De Luca

This salad is an ode to the simple pleasure of sweet fruit dusted with tart Tajín (a mix of salt, dehydrated lime juice, and ground chiles)—a refreshing Mexican street snack. Crisp lettuce and buttery avocados offer additional texture. Mayonnaise in the dressing keeps it creamy and stable, coating the leaves in a thin gloss without dripping away. If your Asian pear isn’t gigantic, fragrant, and wearing a foam jacket to prevent bruising, use a couple of crisp apples instead. Want to make the salad extra pretty? Use a mix of radishes like purple and watermelon.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    15 minutes

  • Yield

    6 servings

Ingredients

Zest and juice of 2 large limes

1½

serrano chiles, 1 halved, ½ thinly sliced

2

garlic cloves

¼

cup mayonnaise

¼

cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼

cup vegetable oil

½

tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more

2

heads of Little Gem lettuce, leaves separated

1

large Asian pear, peeled, cut into ½"-thick sticks

6

small radishes, trimmed, thinly sliced

1

ripe avocado, cut into large pieces

¼

cup (packed) coarsely chopped cilantro

Tajín (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Blend zest and juice of 2 large limes, 1 serrano chile, halved, 2 garlic cloves, ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ cup vegetable oil, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a blender until smooth and creamy. Taste dressing and season with more salt if needed.

    Step 2

    Toss 2 heads of Little Gem lettuce, leaves separated, 1 large Asian pear, peeled, cut into ½"-thick sticks, 6 small radishes, trimmed, thinly sliced, ½ serrano chile, thinly sliced, and three fourths of dressing in a large bowl to combine.

    Step 3

    Arrange salad on a platter and tuck 1 ripe avocado, cut into large pieces, and ¼ cup (packed) coarsely chopped cilantro among lettuce leaves; sprinkle very generously with Tajín. Serve with remaining dressing alongside.

Explore Bon AppétitLunchMainSideSaladDairy-FreeNut-FreeGluten-FreeQuickLettuceLeafy GreensVegetableAsian PearFruitRadishAvocadoSerrano ChileChileDinner
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Reviews (2)

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  • I was very attracted to this salad by its combo of interesting things: Asian pear, Serrano pepper, lime zest/juice, avocado. and cilantro. Interesting blend. I "previewed " it before a lunch with friends (on whom I do not experiment) and turned it into a meal by adding brined and slow-poached shrimp. Every bite was a festival, every bite a marvelous flavor and texture experience. I rate this five stars without hesitation. Wonderful meal. I agree completely with another review that said "Brilliant dances on your tongue".Cannot wait for our lunch with friends.

    • Scootster

    • Ninole, HI

    • 12/15/2023

  • Brilliant dances on your tongue

    • Tina Hillstrom

    • Beverly Hills / Scottsdale

    • 8/9/2023