Fall Harvest Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette Recipe

Crisp autumn leaves dance across the ground, mirroring the vibrant colors of this delightful autumn salad with apple cider vinaigrette.

Golden apples and scattered greens create a seasonal masterpiece that captures the essence of fall’s bounty.

Tart and sweet notes blend harmoniously in this simple yet elegant dish.

Fresh ingredients mingle with a zesty dressing that awakens every taste bud.

The apple cider vinaigrette adds a bright, tangy punch that elevates each forkful with remarkable depth.

Hearty and refreshing, this salad serves as a perfect side or light meal for cool, breezy evenings.

Prepare to savor the comforting flavors of autumn in every delicious bite.

Why Autumn Salad With Apple Cider Vinaigrette Stands Out

• Combines sweet, tangy, and savory elements with minimal chopping and simple ingredients, creating a mouthwatering autumn-inspired salad that feels gourmet but requires basic cooking skills.
• Bakes bacon and toasts pecans simultaneously in the oven, minimizing dirty dishes and cooking time while maximizing flavor development through smart multitasking techniques.
• Allows easy ingredient swaps and personalization, from mixing apple varieties to adjusting dressing quantities, making it perfect for adapting to personal preferences or dietary needs.
• Can be prepped in advance with strategic layering in mason jars, ensuring fresh, crisp components that stay deliciously separate until you're ready to enjoy a portable and nutritious meal.

Ingredients That Make This Autumn Salad Shine

• Lettuce: Crisp and fresh green leaves that form the foundation of the salad.
• Apples: Sweet-tart fruit that adds crunch and color to the autumn-inspired dish.
• Dried Cranberries: Tangy and chewy fruit that provides a burst of flavor.

• Bacon: Crispy and savory meat that adds a rich, smoky element to the salad.
• Feta Cheese: Crumbly and tangy cheese that introduces a creamy texture and sharp taste.

• Pecans: Toasted nuts that bring a warm, nutty flavor and extra crunch.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Smooth base for the vinaigrette that adds richness.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Tangy liquid that provides brightness to the dressing.
• Maple Syrup: Sweet natural sweetener that balances the vinaigrette.
• Dijon Mustard: Zesty condiment that helps emulsify and add depth to the dressing.
• Kosher Salt, Ground Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance overall flavor.

Steps to Toss This Fresh, Seasonal Salad

Step 1: Whip Up the Dressing

In a jar with a tight lid, combine extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.

Shake vigorously until everything blends into a smooth, tangy vinaigrette that’ll make your taste buds dance.

Step 2: Crisp the Bacon and Toast the Pecans

Spread bacon slices on a baking sheet and bake at 350F until perfectly crispy.

Crumble the bacon once cooled.

On another baking sheet, scatter pecans and toast at the same temperature for 5-10 minutes, stirring halfway through.

The nutty aroma will signal they’re ready.

Transfer to a bowl to prevent over-toasting.

Step 3: Prep the Salad Ingredients

Chop lettuce into bite-sized pieces.

Dice apples just before assembling – try a mix of Fuji and Honeycrisp for a delightful sweet-tart flavor.

Keep the peels on for extra color and nutrients.

Step 4: Build Your Salad Masterpiece

• Crisp lettuce
• Diced apples
• Dried cranberries
• Toasted pecans
• Crumbled bacon
• Crumbled feta cheese

Drizzle two-thirds of the vinaigrette and toss gently.

Keep extra dressing on the side for personal touch.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Serve immediately to maintain maximum crunch.

For leftovers, store ingredients separately in the fridge.

Pro tip: Create a portable lunch by layering in a mason jar – dressing first, then apples, cranberries, feta, lettuce, and pecans.

Shake and savor within 24 hours for a fresh, delicious meal.

Tips for a Crisp, Balanced Vinaigrette

• Toss diced apples in a bit of lemon juice to keep them crisp and prevent oxidation.
• Use parchment paper on the baking sheet for easy cleanup and perfectly crisp bacon strips.
• Watch pecans closely while roasting to avoid burning; their nutty aroma indicates they're perfectly toasted.
• Shake vinaigrette in a mason jar and store in the refrigerator for up to a week, allowing flavors to meld together.
• Prep ingredients separately and assemble just before serving to maintain maximum crunch and freshness.

How to Store Autumn Salad Without Wilting

• Transfer leftovers to an airtight container, keeping dressing separate. Store ingredients individually to maintain crispness and prevent wilting. Consume within 1-2 days for best quality and freshness.
• Layer ingredients strategically with dressing at bottom, starting with vinaigrette, then apples, cranberries, feta, lettuce, and pecans. Seal tightly and store upright in refrigerator. Shake before serving within 24 hours.
• Keep vinaigrette in a sealed glass jar in refrigerator for up to one week. Shake well before each use to reincorporate separated ingredients. Check for any signs of spoilage before reusing.
• When ready to eat, gently toss ingredients to redistribute dressing. Add fresh pecans or crisp bacon bits to revive texture and flavor. Discard if ingredients appear wilted or have off-smell.

What to Pair With This Fall Favorite

• Savor Complementary Wine Pairing: Crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling perfectly balances the salad's tangy vinaigrette and rich bacon, cutting through the creamy feta while enhancing the apple and pecan flavors.
• Craft Beverage Match: Hard apple cider creates a delightful flavor harmony, mirroring the apple cider vinaigrette and echoing the salad's autumnal ingredients with its subtle sweetness and bright acidity.
• Enhance Flavor Companions: Serve alongside roasted butternut squash soup to complement the salad's seasonal profile, creating a warming and balanced meal that celebrates autumn's rich, comforting textures and flavors.
• Elevate Protein Option: Grilled chicken breast can transform this salad into a complete meal, providing lean protein that doesn't overpower the delicate vinaigrette and maintains the dish's light, refreshing character.

Easy Mix-Ins to Try for a New Spin

• Vegan Apple Harvest Salad: Replace bacon with smoky tempeh strips, swap feta for cashew cheese crumbles, and use agave instead of maple syrup in the vinaigrette.
• Gluten-Free Autumn Mix: Ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free, substitute pecans with almonds if needed, and verify vinegar and mustard are gluten-free certified.
• Low-Carb Keto Version: Remove cranberries, replace maple syrup with stevia, use more nuts, add extra crispy prosciutto instead of bacon, and increase healthy fat content.
• Nut-Free Garden Salad: Skip pecans entirely, add sunflower seeds for crunch, use pumpkin seeds as alternative, maintain original dressing and other ingredients while keeping same flavor profile.

FAQs

• Why use apple cider vinegar in the dressing?

Apple cider vinegar adds a tangy, slightly sweet flavor that complements the salad ingredients. It provides a bright acidity that cuts through the richness of bacon and feta, creating a balanced and refreshing taste.

• Can I make this salad vegetarian?

Absolutely! Simply omit the bacon and replace it with roasted sunflower seeds or additional toasted pecans for crunch. The other ingredients remain the same, ensuring a delicious vegetarian-friendly version.

• How do I prevent apple slices from browning?

Toss the diced apples with a little lemon juice right after cutting. The citric acid helps prevent oxidation, keeping your apple pieces fresh and white for longer. This trick maintains both the appearance and flavor of your salad.

• What if I don't have maple syrup?

No worries! You can substitute maple syrup with honey or agave nectar. These alternatives provide similar sweetness and will work perfectly in the vinaigrette, maintaining the dressing’s overall flavor profile.

Autumn Salad With Apple Cider Vinaigrette Recipe

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4.5 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Crisp autumn nights welcome this hearty Autumn Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette, blending seasonal greens and sweet-tangy dressing. Delightful textures and rich flavors make you crave each refreshing bite of this simple yet sophisticated seasonal celebration.

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Ingredients

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Salad Ingredients:

• 8 cups crisp Romaine or Green Leaf lettuce, chopped
• 2 medium tart red apples, cored and diced
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 4 ounces (113 grams) crumbled feta cheese

Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup (158 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup (79 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a tightly sealed jar. Shake vigorously until ingredients emulsify into a smooth, cohesive vinaigrette.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange bacon slices on a baking sheet and cook until crisp, approximately 15-20 minutes. Remove and crumble once cooled. On the same baking sheet, spread pecans and toast for 5-7 minutes, stirring midway to ensure even browning. Transfer pecans to a cool surface.
3. Rinse lettuce thoroughly and chop into bite-sized pieces. Core and dice apples immediately before assembling to prevent browning. Consider using a mix of Fuji and Honeycrisp varieties for complex flavor profile.
4. In a large salad bowl, layer chopped lettuce, diced apples, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, crumbled bacon, and feta cheese. Drizzle two-thirds of prepared vinaigrette and gently toss to distribute dressing evenly.
5. Serve salad immediately to maintain crisp textures. Store any remaining components separately in refrigerator. For individual servings, layer ingredients in mason jars with dressing at bottom, creating a portable meal that stays fresh up to 24 hours.

Notes

• Choose crisp, fresh apples like Fuji or Honeycrisp to ensure maximum flavor and prevent browning quickly.
• Toast pecans carefully to enhance their nutty aroma without burning, watching them closely during baking.
• Customize the salad by swapping bacon for crispy chickpeas to make it vegetarian-friendly and add protein.
• Keep dressing separate when storing to maintain the salad’s crunchiness and prevent wilting of ingredients.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 380
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 200mg
• Fat: 32g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 25g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 8g
• Cholesterol: 20mg