Sweet Maple Apple Pecan Salad

This Sweet Maple Apple Pecan salad is the best spring salad, also fabulous in the fall, brightens up a dreary winter day and it’s scrumptious for a summer luncheon, okay so truly it’s a salad that fits every season.

Sweet Maple Apple Pecan Salad has subtle flavors of maple, blending beautifully with the crisp tartness of the apples, crunch sweet pecans, sweet strawberries and the creamy goat cheese. 

Every time I make this salad people ask for the recipe, I even have a friend who has taken the recipe to her family in New Zealand and it is now spreading all over New Zealand. I love it! An international sensation!

Whether for brunch, luncheon or dinner, this salad compliments so many dishes. I gave the recipe to my sister-in-law a few years back, she L.O.V.E.D. it, in fact she loved it so much my niece called begging me to give her a new salad recipe…because it was all she ever made! LOL!

Assembling your Sweet Maple Apple Pecan Salad

Grab the ingredients for your maple vinaigrette and pour in a mason jar and shake, shake, shake. (see options below). Go ahead and count that as your arm workout for the day! Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Place mixed spring lettuce (I like baby mixed greens) or other favorite greens into a salad bowl. The small salad containers from the market is perfect, depending on how many you are feeding, this recipe easily doubles or triples for larger crowds.

Slice apple into thin slices and then chop into smaller pieces, no need to peel, more vitamins and fiber that way, but if you must, feel free to peel. My apple preferences are Granny Smith (for tartness) or Honeycrisp (for sweet-tart), but use your fave! 

Throw in thinly sliced red onions, I like mine nice and thin, my favorite knife! I like red onions, I just don’t want them overwhelming each bite or take it a notch higher and try these pickled red onions!! They are mildly flavored, without the bite of raw onions. Oh my!

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Add candied pecans or try my Simple Low Sugar Candied Nuts. You can buy them, but these are super easy to make and aren’t as sugary as your average brand.

Lob in goat cheese (or check out options below), pour desired vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

MAKE AHEAD TIPS

• Slice apples ahead of time; squeeze in a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and toss well, refrigerate 
• Prep sliced onions, place in a baggie or glass container in fridge 
• Measure candied pecans and have ready to toss in salad
• Make your dressing and refrigerate

OPTIONAL MIX-INS OR TRADES:

1. Add fresh berries; I used sliced strawberries and pomegranate arils in the salad shown. Fresh boysenberries, blueberries or raspberries would be yummy.
2. Instead of candied pecans, use candied walnuts or almonds, macadamia nuts or even plain toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, or pine nuts.
3. Try feta or blue cheese instead of goat cheese.
4. Change your vinegar; try white or dark balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar or a wine vinegar (red or white).
5. Add shredded cooked chicken to make this a heartier salad for a luncheon
6. Sling in a handful of crisp fried bacon bits, now we’re talking!

Toss salad with dressing just before serving, adjusting dressing to size of salad served. Serve immediately.

If you like this recipe, give these others a try:

• Blackberry Chicken Salad with Fried Goat Cheese
• Wild Rice Harvest Salad
• Bacon Balsamic Macaroni Salad
• Asian Ramen Noodle Salad (All Natural)

I’d love it if you enjoy this recipe if you’d comment and rate the recipe in the recipe card. 

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Yield: 6-8 servings

Sweet Maple Apple Pecan Salad

Print

A delightfully light and filling salad, with bright colors and a light dressing. Wonderful for any season, throughout the year, easily adapt to seasonal fruits and flavors.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

Maple Syrup Vinaigrette

• 3 Tablespoons maple syrup, real
• 2 Tablespoons vinegar (typically I use red or white wine, but also try white or dark balsamic and even apple cider vinegar)
• 1/4 cup salad oil, I like grapeseed oil, olive oil might be too strong
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad

• 1 small container of mixed baby greens, or try chopped romaine
• 1/4 - 1/2 medium red onion, sliced very thin, or try my pickled red onions (yum!)
• 1 large Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp apple, sliced thin and then chopped into bite size pieces
• 1 cup candied pecans
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (try honey, plain or smoked)

Optional Add-Ins or Swaps

• Add fresh sliced strawberries, boysenberries, raspberries, even blueberries
• Add pomegranate arils, a few tablespoons
• Replace candied pecans for candied walnuts, candied sliced/slivered almonds, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds or pepitas.
• Try feta or blue cheese crumbles in place of goat cheese
• Try white or dark balsamic or apple cider vinegar
• Toss in some shredded cooked chicken breast for a heartier salad, or bacon bits (or both!!)

Instructions

Maple Vinaigrette

1. To make vinaigrette, simply combine all ingredients in a salad shaker (or repurpose a jelly jar or mason jar) and shake well until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Salad

1. Place greens, sliced red onions, sliced & chopped apples (and any other mix-ins) into salad bowl. Add cheese and pecans, pour on dressing to taste and toss. Serve immediately.
2. Many people have allergies, so sometimes I offer the nuts and cheese in small bowls on the side for serving, toss everything else and serve with optional toppings.
3. Serve with soup or sandwiches or add shredded cooked chicken for a heartier salad

Notes

© 2018 | This recipe for Sweet Maple Apple Pecan Salad was featured first on The Fresh Cooky.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 575 Total Fat: 41g Saturated Fat: 7g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 31g Cholesterol: 23mg Sodium: 1234mg Carbohydrates: 37g Fiber: 9g Sugar: 23g Protein: 20g

The nutritional information is estimated and may not be entirely accurate.

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