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Crispy Fall Harvest Chopped Salad with Apple and Pecans

Crispy Fall Harvest Chopped Salad - featured image
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A quick, crunchy, and autumnal chopped salad featuring toasted pecans, crisp apples, sharp cheddar, and a honey-mustard vinaigrette. This recipe captures the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunchy textures in under 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups mixed baby kale and spinach
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, finely chopped
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 1 large Honeycrisp apple, cored and diced
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, cubed into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup cooked bacon bits
  • 1/4 red onion, finely minced
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Toast pecan halves in a single layer for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Remove to a plate to cool.
  2. Wash and thoroughly dry the kale and spinach. Remove tough stems from kale. Chop romaine lettuce into 1/2-inch pieces. Place all greens in a large salad bowl.
  3. Core and dice the apple into small cubes. Finely mince the red onion (soak in ice water for 5 minutes if desired to mellow flavor). Cube cheddar cheese into 1/4-inch pieces. Chop bacon if not already crispy.
  4. In a small jar or bowl, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously until emulsified and slightly thickened.
  5. Add cooled pecans, diced apple, dried cranberries, bacon, cheese, and onion to the greens. Pour dressing over the top.
  6. Toss gently but thoroughly with tongs or two large spoons until every leaf is coated. Serve immediately.

Notes

Ensure greens are completely dry before tossing to prevent watery dressing. Toast pecans right before serving to maintain crunch. For a vegetarian option, swap bacon for crispy chickpeas. For vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey and omit cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall salad, chopped salad, apple pecan salad, healthy dinner, quick recipes, autumn recipes, gluten-free salad, keto friendly

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/crispy-fall-harvest-chopped-salad-with-apple-and-pecans-15-min/