Apple Pecan Salad – Immaculate Bites

Is Apple Pecan Salad Healthy?

I’m no nutritionist, but the Apple Pecan Salad is pretty healthy, despite the few sweet ingredients it contains — of course, you’ll need to base your decision on your specific dietary restrictions.

The greens, apples, and pecans are packed with healthy nutrients, plus the balsamic vinaigrette is homemade with no preservatives or unnecessary chemicals. 👍🏿

Recipe Ingredients

1. Leafy vegetables – The base of this salad is completely customizable, but I like to use mixed greens, spinach, and romaine lettuce.
2. Flavorful topping – Adding red onion and blue cheese adds extra flavor. You can also use roasted pecans instead of candied pecans for even more flavor.
3. sweet topping – Fresh apples and dried cranberries add color and a hint of sweetness and tartness. If you have a sweet tooth, Candied Pecans Instead of roast.
4. dressing – Make a delicious balsamic vinaigrette with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, lemon juice, and honey Dijon mustard. If you don’t have balsamic vinegar, don’t worry, you can use red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar.

How to make Apple Pecan Salad

• Making the Vinaigrette – In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, lemon juice, and honey-Dijon mustard until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Adjust seasoning – Taste the dressing and adjust the ingredients as needed. If it’s too sour, add more honey. If it’s too sweet, add more vinegar or lemon juice. If not using immediately, store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for 3-6 days.
• assemble – Place mixed greens, sliced ​​apples, dried cranberries, blue cheese, roasted or candied pecans, and apple slices in a large serving bowl.
• serve – Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and mix. Adjust the amount of dressing to your liking by adding more or less. Enjoy.

Recipe Variations

1. Next time, try making this chicken apple pecan salad. Grilling chicken breastsOr make it into a black and blue dinner salad. Charred Salmon.
2. For a heartier vegetarian salad, add whole grains and legumes. Chickpeas, quinoa, lentils and barley are tasty, nutritious staples in a plant-based diet.
3. Add 1 tablespoon pomegranate juice and stir to make pomegranate vinaigrette.
4. Roasted fall vegetables also work well in this salad — try diced, roasted sweet potatoes, for example.

Tips and Tricks

1. After washing your vegetables, dry them thoroughly. You can use a salad spinner or buy pre-washed vegetables to get this done. The drier your vegetables are, the crispier the lettuce will be and the better the dressing will coat the salad.
2. Soaking apple slices in lemon juice or fresh pineapple juice can help prevent them from changing color quickly.
3. Mixing this salad in a larger bowl will reduce mess, and you can mix it in that bowl and then transfer it to a smaller, clean serving bowl.
4. First, go easy on the salad dressing: You can always add more, but there’s no going back for a watery salad with too much dressing.

Preliminary steps

Save chopping the apple and adding the dressing to your salad for the very last time, otherwise the lettuce will get soggy and the apples will brown, but there are quite a few steps you can do ahead of time: The day before, wash and dry the greens, crumble the blue cheese, mix the dressing, and toss the pecans with sugar.

How to serve and store

This salad is best served immediately after plating, with the dressing or with the vinaigrette on the side.

Store leftover salad and dressing separately if possible and eat as soon as possible, as lettuce will wilt and apples will brown over time.

What goes well with apple pecan salad?

I like to serve it with steamed apple pecan salad. Sweet potato soup homemade No-knead breadIt’s also perfect for a sumptuous meal. Spatchcock Turkey and Cornbread Dressing.😋

More Great Salad Recipes to Try

1. Pineapple cucumber salad
2. Salmon salad
3. Fattoush salad
4. Black bean and corn salad
5. Bacon Broccoli Salad