Southern Pear Salad (Vintage Recipe)
Southern pear salad is a vintage side dish made with only 5 ingredients. It’s an easy slightly sweet recipe perfect for holidays, potlucks, family gatherings.
If you grew up in the South, you’ve likely seen this Southern pear salad on a holiday table or at a church potluck at least once.
Sure it is taking advantage of a loose definition of a salad, but it does have fruit and lettuce so it fits in my book.
The comforting dish absolutely brims with 1950s nostalgia.
Originally, home cooks made it as a fancy, colorful dish to serve to guests.
Today it holds up as a lighter offering alongside heavier Southern fare.
The combination of sweet pears, creamy mayonnaise, cheese, and cherries creates a unique blend of flavors that’s equal parts refreshing, sweet, and savory.
And it comes together in just minutes with no cooking, making it perfect when you need an easy side dish but don’t have extra time to spend in the kitchen.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Pear halves– A 15 ounce can of pear halves drained.
- Lettuce– 5 butter lettuce leaves. For authenticity’s sake, don’t sub another lettuce.
- Mayonnaise– Real, full fat mayo.
- Cheese– Shredded cheddar
- Maraschino cherries
How to Make
This vintage Southern pear salad is so easy to make as there’s no actual cooking involved.
Just lay the lettuce leaves out flat on a serving plate.
Top each lettuce leaf with a pear half with the open center side up.
Add a heaping tablespoon of mayo into the bowl shape in the center of each pear half.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly out overtop of the prepared pears.
Top each pear with a maraschino cherry.
Serve chilled and enjoy!
Storing
Store this in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days.
Because the recipe contains mayonnaise and canned fruit, it should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour on very hot days).
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes!
If you’re making it ahead, assemble the pears and store them covered in the refrigerator but don’t add the cherries until just before serving.
For the best flavor and texture, serve it chilled straight from the refrigerator.
Tips and Tricks
- Chill the assembled pear salad minus the cherries in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes prior to serving and top them with the cherries just before serving.
- Don’t use low fat mayo or Miracle Whip. It will change the taste of the salad.
- Drain the the pears well and pat them dry before serving so the salad doesn’t get too watery.
Other Vintage Southern Recipes
Southern pear salad is a vintage recipe that has withstood the test of time.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other vintage Southern recipes?
Try these:
If you’ve tried this SOUTHERN PEAR SALAD, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Southern Pear Salad (Vintage Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can pear halves drained
- 5 butter lettuce leaves
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 5 maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Arrange the lettuce leaves on a serving plate by laying them out flat.5 butter lettuce leaves
- Top each lettuce leaf with a pear half.1 15 oz can pear halves
- Add a heaping tablespoon of mayo into the bowl shape in the center of each pear half.1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly out overtop of the prepared pears.1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Top each pear with a maraschino cherry.5 maraschino cherries
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- Chill the assembled pear salad minus the cherries in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes prior to serving and top them with the cherries just before serving.
- Don't use low fat mayo or Miracle Whip. It will change the taste of the salad.
- Drain the the pears well and pat them dry before serving so the salad doesn't get too watery.
Nutrition
