Escarole, Pear, Parmesan, and Basil Leaf Salad - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Escarole, Pear, Parmesan, and Basil Leaf Salad
Servings: 8
Lunch

This Escarole, Pear, Parmesan, and Basil Leaf Salad is a PCOS-friendly recipe.

Nutrition per Serving

0 Calories
0g Protein
0g Carbs
0g Fat
Recipe by Mindy Fox Fresh basil and pears team up to offer a winning combination of delicate fruit and herbal notes to this bright, crisp salad.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 heads of escarole (about 2 1/2 pounds), tough outer greens removed, leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 Comice or Anjou pears, preferably red, cored, thinly sliced lengthwise
  • 1/2 pound Parmesan, shaved
  • 2 cups (packed) basil leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • Flaky sea salt

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a small skillet over medium. Add hazelnuts and toast, stirring occasionally, until golden, 2 –3 minutes. Season with 1/8 tsp. kosher salt. Remove from heat; set aside.
  2. Finely chop garlic clove. Using the side of a chef's knife, mash garlic with 1/4 tsp. kosher salt to form a paste. Whisk garlic paste, vinegar, mustard, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk in 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a slow and steady stream.
  3. Place escarole, pears, Parmesan, basil, and about 1/3 of the reserved hazelnuts in a large bowl and drizzle with vinaigrette. Gently toss until salad is evenly dressed; season with sea salt and pepper. Top with remaining hazelnuts.

PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe

This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Nuts, Basil.

Nuts are a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity. Basil is an excellent stress reliever, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this Escarole, Pear, Parmesan, and Basil Leaf Salad recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly., it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health.

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Lunch. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 8 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

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