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Harvest Apple Pecan Salad with Easy Maple Vinaigrette

Harvest Apple Pecan Salad with Easy Maple Vinaigrette - featured image
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A crisp and flavorful salad featuring Honeycrisp apples, toasted pecans, feta cheese, and dried cranberries, all tossed in a silky maple vinaigrette. Perfect for dinner parties and holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups mixed salad greens (spring mix or baby spinach)
  • 2 large Honeycrisp apples, cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • ⅓ cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small shallot, finely minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Place chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently until fragrant and lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  2. Make the maple vinaigrette: In a small bowl or mason jar, combine maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and minced shallot. Whisk or shake until combined. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Prep the apples and onion: Wash and core the apples, then slice thinly (about ⅛-inch thick). Thinly slice the red onion into half-moons. If desired, soak onion slices in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the bite, then drain and pat dry.
  4. Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, sliced apples, toasted pecans, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, and sliced red onion. Do not add dressing yet.
  5. Dress and toss: Just before serving, drizzle about half the vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently with hands or tongs until evenly coated. Add more dressing as needed.
  6. Serve immediately: Transfer to a serving platter or individual plates. Garnish with extra pecan halves and a sprinkle of feta if desired.

Notes

Toast pecans carefully to avoid burning. Emulsify dressing well for a silky texture. Dress salad just before serving to keep greens crisp. Leftover dressing keeps in the fridge for up to a week.

Nutrition

Keywords: harvest salad, apple pecan salad, maple vinaigrette, fall salad, dinner party salad

Find it online: https://dinadinnertable.com/harvest-apple-pecan-salad-with-easy-maple-vinaigrette/