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Best Easy Apple Pecan Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

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This Fresh Harvest Apple Pecan Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is a quick and easy fall salad featuring crisp apples, toasted pecans, creamy feta, and a sweet-tangy maple dressing. Perfect for Thanksgiving, potlucks, or a simple weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach and arugula blend, about 180g)
  • 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji, about 300g total), thinly sliced
  • 1 cup pecans (100g), roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese (75g), crumbled
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries (40g)
  • 1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup (45ml)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30ml)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (60ml)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Place chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir constantly for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Remove from pan immediately and set aside to cool.
  2. Prepare the apples: Wash apples, cut into quarters, remove core, and slice into thin 1/4-inch slices. Toss with a squeeze of lemon juice if not serving immediately to prevent browning.
  3. Make the maple vinaigrette: In a mason jar or small bowl, combine maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until combined. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  4. Prepare the greens: Wash and dry greens thoroughly using a salad spinner or patting dry with a clean towel. Place dried greens in a large salad bowl.
  5. Assemble the salad: Add sliced apples, toasted pecans, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, and thinly sliced red onion to the bowl with greens.
  6. Dress and toss: Drizzle about 3/4 of the vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated. Add more dressing if needed.
  7. Serve immediately: Enjoy right after dressing for best texture. If serving later, keep dressing separate and toss just before serving.

Notes

Toast pecans carefully as they burn quickly. Don’t overdress the salad; start with less dressing and add more as needed. Slice apples just before serving to prevent browning. Dry greens thoroughly to avoid watery salad. Season dressing properly with salt and pepper.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple pecan salad, maple vinaigrette, fall salad, easy salad recipe, Thanksgiving salad, apple salad, pecan salad

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