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Best Harvest Apple Pecan Salad – Easy 30-Minute Recipe

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A quick and easy Harvest Apple Pecan Salad that comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for gatherings. This crowd-pleasing salad features sweet and tart apples, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and feta cheese with a tangy maple Dijon dressing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups mixed salad greens (about 180g)
  • 2 large apples (about 300g total), one sweet (e.g., Honeycrisp) and one tart (e.g., Granny Smith), thinly sliced
  • 1 cup pecans (about 110g), roughly chopped
  • ½ cup dried cranberries (about 60g)
  • ½ cup feta cheese (about 75g), crumbled
  • ¼ cup red onion (about 40g), thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (60ml)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30ml)
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (15ml)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (5ml)
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced (about ½ teaspoon)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for tossing apples)

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Place a small skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped pecans in a single layer. Stir frequently for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  2. Make the dressing: In a mason jar, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds until emulsified. Set aside.
  3. Prep the apples: Wash apples, cut into quarters, remove cores, and slice into thin, bite-sized pieces (about ¼-inch thick). Toss with 1 tablespoon lemon juice to prevent browning.
  4. Slice the red onion: Cut red onion in half through the root end, peel, and slice thinly into half-rings. Soak in cold water for 5 minutes to mellow the flavor if desired.
  5. Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, sliced apples, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, crumbled feta, and sliced red onion. Drizzle about half the dressing over the top and toss gently until evenly coated.
  6. Taste and adjust: Add more dressing, salt, or pepper as needed.
  7. Serve immediately: Transfer to a serving platter if desired. Garnish with extra pecan halves and a sprinkle of feta. Best eaten within an hour of assembling.

Notes

Toast pecans carefully as they burn quickly. Dry greens thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Dress right before serving. For best results, use a mix of sweet and tart apples. The dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: harvest apple pecan salad, easy salad recipe, fall salad, apple pecan salad, 30-minute salad, potluck salad, crowd-pleasing salad

Find it online: https://oracooks.com/best-harvest-apple-pecan-salad-easy-30-minute-recipe/