Apple Pecan Salad

Content… Is it Good for You? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage What to Serve More Sensational Salad Recipes to Try

Is Apple Pecan Salad Healthy?

I’m not a nutritionist, but apple pecan salad is pretty healthy despite containing a few sweet ingredients. Of course, you’ll need to make the call based on your specific dietary restrictions.

I can say there are loads of good-for-you nutrients in the greens, apples, and pecans. Plus, the balsamic vinaigrette is homemade with no preservatives or unnecessary chemicals. 👍🏿

Recipe Ingredients

1. Leafy Greens – The base of this salad is totally customizable, but I like to go with mixed greens, spinach, and romaine lettuce.
2. Savory Toppings – Red onions plus blue cheese add loads of flavor here. Roasted pecans can replace candied to lean more toward savory.
3. Sweet Toppings – Fresh apples and dried cranberries add color, subtle sweetness, and tang. If you have a sweet tooth, use candied pecans instead of roasted.
4. Dressing – Extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, lemon juice, and honey Dijon mustard deliver a tasty balsamic vinaigrette. No worries if you don’t have balsamic vinegar; red and white wine vinegar also work well.

How to Make Apple Pecan Salad

• Make the Vinaigrette -In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, lemon juice, and honey Dijon mustard until fully combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Adjust Seasonings – Give the dressing a taste test and adjust the ingredients as you see fit. If too tart, add more honey. If too sweet, add more vinegar or lemon juice. Store in a glass jar for 3-6 days in the fridge if not using immediately.
• Assemble – Place the mixed greens, sliced apples, dried cranberry, blue cheese, roasted or candied pecans, and apple slices in a large serving bowl.
• Serve – Right before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss to combine. Adjust dressing to preference with more or less as needed. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

1. Make a chicken apple pecan salad the next time you grill chicken breasts. Or make it a black and blue dinner salad with blackened salmon.
2. Add whole grains and legumes for a heartier vegetarian salad. Chickpeas, quinoa, lentils, and barley are delicious and nutritious ingredients in a plant-based diet.
3. Stir in a tablespoon of pomegranate juice to create a pomegranate vinaigrette dressing.
4. Roasted fall veggies also taste great with this salad. Try some cubed, roasted sweet potato, for example. 

Tips and Tricks

1. After washing the greens, make sure they are nice and dry. A salad spinner or buying pre-washed greens achieves this. The drier they are, the crisper the lettuce stays, and the better the dressing will coat the salad.
2. Toss the apple slices in lemon or fresh pineapple juice to keep them from turning dark as quickly.
3. Reduce the mess by tossing this salad in an oversized bowl. You can always mix it there, then transfer it to a smaller, prettier serving bowl.
4. Be frugal with the salad dressing to start. You can always add more, but there’s no undoing an overly dressed, soggy salad. 

Make-Ahead Instructions

You should chop the apples and dress the salad at the last minute; otherwise, the lettuce can get soggy and the apples turn brown. That said, there are quite a few steps you can complete ahead of time. The day ahead, you can wash and dry your greens, crumble the blue cheese, mix the dressing, and candy the pecans.

Serving and Storage Instructions 

Serve this salad just after assembling. You can serve it pre-dressed or keep the vinaigrette on the side.

Store leftover salad and dressing separately if possible and consume them ASAP. Over time, the lettuce wilts and the apples brown.

What Goes With Apple Pecan Salad

I love to serve apple pecan salad with some steamy sweet potato soup and homemade no-knead bread. It also goes well with elaborate meals like a spatchcock turkey with cornbread dressing. 😋

More Sensational Salad Recipes to Try

1. Pineapple Cucumber Salad
2. Salmon Salad
3. Fattoush Salad
4. Black Bean and Corn Salad
5. Bacon Broccoli Salad