This Southern Pear Salad is a vintage recipe that combines canned pears, mayo, cheese, and cherries into a dish that’s as quirky as it is delicious.
You know we southerners are kinda known for slapping the word “salad” on a host of things that are clearly not salads. Things like ambrosia, pineapple walnut salad, and strawberry pretzel salad instantly come to mind. As I’ve said before, I think it makes us feel better about eating them.
Well, folks, of all the weird salads we lay claim to down here, this one right here is probably one of the quirkiest. Now, granted, there is lettuce involved here. So, I think the salad terminology is more appropriate in this case than some of the others. However, this random assemblage of ingredients is just plain weird.
This recipe tops lettuce with canned pear halves, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and a maraschino cherry.
But as strange as it sounds, nearly every true southerner I know instantly knew exactly what I was talking about when I said “pear salad.” It was a dish that was commonplace at potlucks, church dinners, and family gatherings. Lot’s of folks remember this being a “company” dish. You know, one of those fancy recipes we only served to guests.
What’s the history of pear salad?
In doing a little research, I can’t find a clear origin for the unusual dish. It seems it became popular in the 50s, but the rest remains a mystery – at least to me. My friends at Southern Living, It’s a Southern Thing, and Southern Food and Fun share some info about the recipe as well.
And I’ll readily admit, I had never tried this dish until I started working on it for this post – despite seeing it everywhere when I was a child. Now, y’all know I love me some mayo, but something about the canned pears just turned me off.
But as part of my commitment to my craft, I always promise the recipes posted here are tested and tasted numerous times before they make it to the blog. So I tasted it. And honestly, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected it to be. The pear wasn’t as sweet as I thought it would be and the cheese and mayo honestly kinda worked. The cherry wasn’t exactly my favorite part, but I get its inclusion – at least for color and an attempt to “fancy” this dish up a bit.
What are the ingredients for pear salad?
Quite honestly, pear salad is a simple combination of lettuce, canned pears, mayonnaise, and cheddar cheese. Each little stack is garnished with a bright red maraschino cherry.
Can pear salad be made ahead of time?
This is one of those things that doesn’t benefit from some time in the fridge. In fact, as this dish sits, water is leached out of the pears and it sort of becomes a slippery mess with the mayo sliding off and the pears slipping around the lettuce.
So, I recommend this dish be made within a few hours of serving. But, it’s so easy to make, that shouldn’t be a problem. Serve it immediately after making or store in the fridge for up to 2 hours.
Ingredient FAQ
Can I use something other than pears?
According to some folks, they’ve used canned pineapple rings instead of the pears. In my mind, this makes sense because I remember my mom eating pineapple sandwiches with gooey white bread, mayo, and canned pineapple.
Can I use something other than mayo?
A quick chat with my pal Donya over at ASouthernSoul.com revealed that her family made the same dish but swapped the mayo for cottage cheese.
What kind of lettuce should I use?
I think iceberg is the most traditional choice, but I used some pretty bibb lettuce for these photos. Leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, romaine, or even endive should work as well.
Recipe Card
Southern Pear Salad
Ingredients
- 1 (14 to 15-ounce) can pear halves, drained
- 5 lettuce leaves
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 5 maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Arrange the lettuce leaves on a large serving platter or plate. Top each leaf with a pear half. Add a heaping tablespoon of mayo on top of each pear. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the mayo. Add a cherry to the top of each pear. Serve chilled.
Nutrition
Please note:
If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
My mom used to make these all the time when I was little… except she was extra fancy and put a pineapple ring under the pear. (She usually didn’t bother with the lettuce. lol) I hated it… not because of the mayo, but because of the pear… I hated that gritty texture!
I think that’s part of the thing for me, too. I need to try it with a fresh pear, maybe. 🙂
No cottage cheese? My grandma (Depression-era baby) would make this but it had cottage cheese included. Now, I don’t like cottage cheese, mind you, so that was a big turn-off, but I had to taste it because kids had to at least taste what was being served for dinner. It was so good! I’m not a cherry fan, so mine was made without the cherry or I would just pick it off and give it to my mom. I should amend my statement to say I don’t like cottage cheese by itself, but I do like it with grape jelly or fruit cocktail (minus the cherries).
I’ve not had it with cottage cheese, but many folks have shared that they prefer it that way. 🙂 I love me some mayo, but I think I might like the cottage cheese version better!
My mother was born in Atlanta and grew up in Waycross GA. She made these without the cherry and they are delicious!
There are so many delicious variations out there. 🙂
I grew up eating this made with peach halves instead of pear halves. I’ve tried both as an adult and the peaches are my favorite.
I’ve got to try it with peaches!
I was hungry for a dose of this, and drat it, no pears. I made it with drained extra cherry fruit cocktail in mayo, and shredded colby/cheddar cheese. It was tasty.
Seems like the flavors would be very similar!
My grandma (born 1905) made this with cottage cheese instead of mayo. Christmas memories 1965.
It’s been around forever! I guess the best stuff always hangs around. 🙂
My mom made this salad often — without the cheese — and it was always a big hit. She was from South Dakota and Minnesota. I still make it, and I think the cheddar would be a tasty addition. Yum!
Glad to hear that you’ve enjoyed it, bh!
My mom, who passed not too long ago at age 93, was from Kentucky. She was a wonderful and sophisticated cook, but I seem to recall her making a salad when I was a little kid that involved a lettuce leaf, a cube of cream cheese, and the pear half turned over so that the cream cheese nestled in the pear’s little hollow. Then to make it pretty she would rub a drop of red food coloring on the back of the pear! At some point she stopped making this, but at the very last meal she cooked for me she made your exact salad (minus the cherry which I’m sure she never had in the house)!
What a sweet memory!
Really good. I placed the cherry on top & added a little drizzle of the cherry juice over. I also added a drizzle of caramel sauce. Mixed with the pears & mayo & cherries, It was southern delicious!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I generally prefer to get my mayo in smaller doses. Both my mother for between 40 & 65 years and myself we prefer to use small curd cottage cheese. in place of mayo – otherwise exactly the same.
I totally understand that. The cottage cheese is next on my list. 🙂
I live in South Carolina. This pear salad is at every family gathering and reunion. My mom remembers it from her childhood.
I don’t remember many of those type of gatherings without it. 🙂
I grew up on this salad!! Brings back fond memories. It’s also good with pineapple rings.
I’ve not tried it with the pineapple, but it’s going to happen for sure.
We made this in home ec. class. I was in the 8th grade. Now 70 is in my rear view mirror. Thanks for bringing this back to my memories. Delicious!
Those classic recipes stick around for a reason. 🙂
I have made this before, but we substitute cottage cheese for the mayo.
By the way…….we are all huge fans, Stacey! ðŸ¤
Thanks so much, Elly May!
Oh yummy! I remember my mom making this growing up. She didn’t use mayo though, she used Miracle Whip instead and it gave it a tangy sweet cheesy taste. We never had cherries on ours but I think I do remember there being iceberg lettuce. I live in Canada now, wonder what they’ll think if I bring it to a get together 😉
I think you should try and see what happens! I’d love to hear about their reactions! 😂
My mom made this salad with just pineapple, cherry and cottage cheese on iceberg lettuce. Its delicious!
Trying it with pineapple is on my to-do list!
As a deep south (MS) girl, I too, grew up both making and eating Pear Salad. I still do! And I still love it! I’ve had friends that have never encountered it and been like, what IS THAT? Then, they try it, and love it, too! I’ll admit, though, I leave off the cherries. I don’t care about the aesthetics. We just don’t care for them.. 😉
It’s a strange thing for sure, but folks do love it!
Aw… My Nanny used to make this for me when I was little, but with pineapple rings. I always thought it was a very special dish!
It IS a very special dish – if for no other reason than that right there. Sweet memories!
I loved “perlu salad” when I was a kid. BUT no cherry, Mom used French Dressing and in later years she changed to Catalina when our palates became more sophisticated. I admit forgot about this Salad but always buy canned pear halves and hate what I do with them. I think this is what I’m looking for. Thanks. Mom used Velveeta not anything expensive.
Hope you enjoy this version!
I’d forgotten about this salad, and it’s a good one! A good reminder, as I’d forgotten all about it. Mama usually used a dollop of rich cottage cheese instead of the mayo though. Thanks for jogging my memory!
I’ve seen folks go either way with the mayo and cottage cheese. I’ve only ever tried it with mayo, but I think Id like the cottage cheese, too!
Give it a try! It’s a little healthier, and it’s easy to make your own cottage cheese!
Will do! 🙂
I’ve been eating this all my life and we still have it often at our house. Our great-grandson likes it now too. If you want to raise the bar a bit, put a pineapple ring between the lettuce and the pear!
Look at you getting fancy! Sounds great!
My mama made these, but most of the time she used canned peach halves, since us kids liked the peaches better. Memories!!!! So good!!!!
I’ll have to try it with peaches.
Yes! I’ve had it with peaches as well… Also good!
Gotta try that too!
Hadn’t thought about this in years! I loved it growing up.
I think it’s time to make it! 🙂
Pear salad is not weird at all, if you grew up with it… your recipe is exactly accurate, though my family only used the maraschino cherry occasionally. The cold pear and the Dukes mayo and finely and freshly grated cheddar cheese are very tasty as a side dish at a meal!
Thanks, Beth!
My family had this last night, been eating this for decades. I call it the NURSING home salad, LOL! Every nursing home I know serves this on a regular. Folks also do this salad with pineapple slices.
That’s hilarious! I think I’d like the pineapple, too!
Have made a version of this salad for decades with some variation: I use Miracle Whip, and instead of shredded cheese, cream cheese cut into small cubes or slices. The textures and flavors just work so well together.
I’m not a huge miracle whip fan, but I think I’d be willing to try it here. 🙂
Since I use cream cheese, the Miracle Whip makes the nicest friendly contrast of flavors..and I forgot to note that I never used the ‘chemical cherries’ :-).
Totally understand that.