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Best Easy Fall Harvest Apple Pecan Salad Recipe

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This Fall Harvest Apple Pecan Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is a crowd-pleasing salad that changes minds. It features crisp apples, toasted pecans, tart dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, and a tangy maple dressing, all coming together in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups mixed greens (baby spinach and arugula recommended)
  • 2 large apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup raw pecan halves, toasted
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
  • 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 small shallot, minced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Place pecan halves in a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Immediately 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 a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk or shake to combine. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  3. Prepare the apples and onion: Core and thinly slice the apples (about 1/8-inch thick). Thinly slice the red onion. If sensitive to raw onion, soak slices in cold water for 10 minutes.
  4. Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, add mixed greens. Top with sliced apples, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, and sliced red onion. Do not toss yet.
  5. Dress and serve: Drizzle about half the maple vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently with tongs or two large spoons. Add more dressing as needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

Toast pecans carefully as they burn quickly. Do not overdress the salad; start with half the dressing and add more as needed. Slice apples just before serving to prevent browning. For make-ahead, prep components separately and dress just before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall harvest salad, apple pecan salad, maple vinaigrette, fall salad, easy salad recipe, Thanksgiving salad, gluten-free salad

Find it online: https://spoonluma.com/best-easy-fall-harvest-apple-pecan-salad-recipe/