Apple Pecan Salad

This fall salad is always a hit come cooler weather. But it's so good you'll want it around all year long. With fresh greens, crisp apple slices, candied pecans, blue cheese crumbles, and the most amazing homemade balsamic vinaigrette, how could you not?

Course Salad, Side

Cuisine American, Southern

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 652kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

Balsamic Vinaigrette

⅓ cup (80ml) olive oil
¼ cup (60ml) balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons (42-63g) honey
2 teaspoons (10-11g) Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Apple Pecan Salad

4 cups (300g) mixed greens, spinach, or romaine lettuce
2 medium apples, thinly sliced
½ cup (60g) dried cranberries
½ cup (112-115g) blue cheese
½ cup (75g) roasted pecans or candied pecans
¼-⅓ cup (28-40g) sliced red onions

Instructions

The Dressing

Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, lemon juice, honey, and Dijon mustard until fully combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Adjust ingredients to taste: if it's too tart, add more honey; if it's too sweet, add more lemon juice or vinegar. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days.

The Salad

Place mixed greens, sliced apples, dried cranberries, blue cheese, candied pecans, and apple slices in a large serving bowl.
Right before serving, pour the balsamic vinaigrette dressing over the salad and mix to combine. Adjust dressing to preference with more or less as needed. Enjoy!

Notes

After washing the greens, make sure they are nice and dry. A salad spinner or buying pre-washed greens achieves this. The drier they are, the crisper the lettuce stays, and the better the dressing will coat the salad.
Toss the apple slices in lemon or fresh pineapple juice to keep them from turning dark as quickly.
Reduce the mess by tossing this salad in an oversized bowl. You can always mix it there, then transfer it to a smaller, prettier serving bowl.
Be frugal with the salad dressing to start. You can always add more, but there's no undoing an overly dressed, soggy salad.
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition