This Apple and Candied Pecan Salad is now my go-to fall and winter salad, with matchstick apples for crunch, parmesan for saltiness, candied pecans for sweetness, and tossed in a show-stopping spiced apple cider vinaigrette.
My friend Heather had a few girlfriends over for brunch at her house in mid-November, and it was just the most delicious brunch I have been to in a long time. She made homemade blueberry muffins and sun dried tomato and spinach quiches, among several other treats, and kept the mimosas flowing. But the stealer of the show was this dang salad! I couldn't stop eating it. I think I had three helpings.
This apple and pecan salad is one of those recipes that's good enough to be on a holiday table (I made it for Thanksgiving) or on a low-key Tuesday night. It's a field greens salad with fresh apples, parmesan flakes, and candied pecans. The salad is adapted from the Cozy Apron's version. I've just added cheese to the salad for some saltiness and reduced the honey in the dressing to make it less sweet.
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Apple and Candied Pecan Salad Ingredients
- Spring mix - or use whatever is your favorite assorted salad greens.
- apple - There are so many good varities of apples out in the grocery store this time of year, but Honeycrisp apples continue to be one of our family's favorites.
- parmesan - I like the flakes of parmesan you can buy pre-cut for this salad.
- apple cider vinegar
- honey
- candied pecans - Raw or roasted pecans work, too, but I highly recommend making your own Southern candied pecans. They only take a few minutes of active time and really take the salad up a notch.
- cinnamon - The cinnamon just makes this dressing feel like a warm hug.
- black pepper
- salt
- curry powder - Just a pinch will add another layer of coziness that's a great match with the cinnamon. Trust me.
- olive oil
The recipe card below will tell you the exact quantities of each ingredient as well as step-by-step directions.
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The Best Apples to Use
...are the ones that are your favorite.
It's like my kids just KNOW what the most expensive apples are. They don't eat the standard generic red apple that comes in a large bag. My kids prefer Honecrisp or Pink Lady, of course. And they're not wrong -- they're absolutely delicious with their crispy juiciness. Use whatever kind of apple in this salad that fits your fancy.
The Star: The Spiced Apple Cider Vinaigrette
The true show stopper in the salad is the spiced apple cider vinaigrette. It's a classic apple cider vinaigrette with two major upgrades: 1.) there are ground candied pecans chopped into the dressing...GENIUS! and 2.) There's a decent amount of cinnamon and a pinch of curry powder that make the dressing feel like a warm hug on a fall or winter's night. It's amazing what a ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of curry powder can do to make a perfect seasonal dressing.
When I have a few minutes of time, I whip up my favorite Southern candied pecans that take less than 5 minutes of your time to make. You can certainly use plain pecans in both the dressing and the salad though if you're strapped for time.
Variations
One of the greatest things about salad recipes if you can make them your own. Don't love parmesan? Replace the parmesan with an aged white cheddar or goat cheese! This apple and candied pecan salad is also delicious with dried fruit like dried cranberries or dried cherries. I love a good dried fruit in my salad like in the copycat Cosi signature salad or this superfood kale salad.
Worn Slap Out? Try These Hacks.
- Skip the candied pecans - If you don't have the time to candy pecans, just use plain pecans. The salad will still taste delicious.
- Buy pre-washed salad. This is my go-to. Ain't nobody got time to wash their own greens and dry them.
- Skip the food processor. Either cut up the pecans yourself or skip them all together. Throw all of the dressing ingredients into a jar and shake vigorously until incorporated.
- Buy pre-cut parmesan - I like the parmesan flakes that can be found in the cheese section.
- Make it dinner. Add a protein like shrimp or chicken and you've got yourself a whole meal!
Storage
Once tossed with the dressing, this salad should be eaten right away.
If you think there might be leftovers, keep the dressing off the salad and store lettuce and fixings in an airtight container in the fridge. The dressing, also stored in jar in the fridge, will last for 4-5 days.
Mains to Eat with This Salad
I love the idea of simple pan-seared chicken breasts or simple sauteed shrimp. A slow-cooked pulled pork shoulder or pulled chicken would also be delicious with it. Try pairing with another salad -- my healthy ham and potato soup would be at the top of my list.
More Salads & Soups You'll Love
Try these other soup and salad recipes you'll also love!
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These are some delicious weeknight dishes to try out with your salad!
Cozy up!
xox,
kathryn
Apple and Candied Pecan Salad with Spiced Cider Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ¼ cup candied pecans or plain*
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- pinch curry powder
- ½ cup olive oil
For the salad:
- 4 cups spring mix or other assorted greens
- 1 apple cut into 1" matchsticks
- ¼ cup parmesan flakes
- ½ cup candied pecans
Instructions
- Place all of the dressing ingredients except for the olive oil in a good processor until the pecans are as small as possible. Slowly add the olive oil and process on high until all the mixture is smooth and incorporated.
- Assemble the salad: Place greens in a large bowl, toss in apple, parmesan, and candied pecans. Enjoy!
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