Sprout Salad with Pear and Shiitake Mushrooms

This sprout salad with pear and shiitake mushrooms balances crisp vegetables, juicy fruit, savory mushrooms, and salted peanuts. A ginger dressing made with pear balsamic vinegar and soy sauce pulls every flavor together.

Serve it as a light lunch or pair it with glazed duck, sautéed chicken, or marinated tuna.

Ingredients

• 7 ounces (200 g) mixed sprouts, such as mung bean, soybean, radish, alfalfa, or wheat
• 5.3 ounces (150 g) shiitake mushrooms
• Neutral or corn-germ oil, for sautéing
• 3.5 ounces (100 g) snow peas
• 1 white peach or 1 ripe pear
• Salted peanuts
• Fresh cilantro leaves

For the dressing

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons pear balsamic vinegar
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons cold-pressed peanut oil or another mild oil
• Salt, as needed
• 1 small chile pepper, seeded and finely diced

How to make sprout salad with pear

1. Blanch the sprouts

Clean the sprouts and blanch them in boiling salted water for about 10 seconds. Drain, rinse immediately under cold water, and drain thoroughly.

2. Mix the dressing

Combine the ginger, pear balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, oil, and chile. Taste before adding salt because soy sauce is already salty. Toss the sprouts with the dressing.

3. Sauté the shiitakes

Remove the tough stems and thinly slice the mushroom caps. Heat a little oil in a skillet over high heat and sauté the mushrooms until browned. Season lightly with salt.

4. Blanch the snow peas

Cut the snow peas into broad strips. Blanch for about 10 seconds in boiling salted water, then chill in ice water and drain. Season lightly.

5. Assemble the salad

Core the pear or pit the peach and cut it into wedges. Arrange the dressed sprouts with the mushrooms, snow peas, and fruit. Finish with salted peanuts and cilantro.

Easy substitutions

Apricot or mango can replace the peach or pear. For more heat, add extra chile; for a milder salad, omit it completely.

Give the dressing a pear finish

Gölles Balsamic Pear Vinegar adds ripe fruit character and gentle acidity to this savory dressing. Browse the Gölles collection for more fruit vinegars.