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Best Fresh Fall Harvest Salad with Apples and Pecans

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A crisp and satisfying fall salad featuring sweet Honeycrisp apples, toasted pecans, creamy goat cheese, and a tangy maple Dijon dressing. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a quick weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups (180g) mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, red leaf lettuce)
  • 2 medium (300g) Honeycrisp apples, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup (100g) raw pecans, toasted
  • 4 ounces (115g) soft goat cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup (60g) dried cranberries
  • 1/2 small (50g) red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) Dijon mustard
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Place a small skillet over medium heat. Add raw pecans in a single layer. Toast for 3 to 5 minutes, shaking the pan every 30 seconds, until fragrant and slightly darker. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  2. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or mason jar, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, a pinch of salt, and a few cracks of black pepper. Whisk or shake until emulsified, about 30 seconds. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  3. Prep the apples and onion: Core the apples and slice thinly (about 1/8 inch thick), leaving the skin on. Slice the red onion as thinly as possible. 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, dried cranberries, and red onion. Crumble goat cheese over the top. Drizzle with about half the dressing and toss gently with hands or salad tongs. Add more dressing as needed.
  5. Serve immediately: Divide among plates or serve family-style. Add optional toppings like pomegranate seeds or roasted squash just before serving. Best eaten right away.

Notes

Toast pecans carefully as they burn quickly. Dry greens thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Slice apples just before serving to prevent browning. Dress lightly at first; you can always add more. Let goat cheese come to room temperature for easier crumbling.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall harvest salad, apple pecan salad, maple dijon dressing, easy fall salad, holiday salad

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/best-fresh-fall-harvest-salad-with-apples-and-pecans/