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Healthy Fall Harvest Salad with Apples & Goat Cheese

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A crunchy, creamy, and tangy fall salad featuring crisp apples, toasted pecans, creamy goat cheese, and a zippy maple dressing. Perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 ounces arugula (about 5 cups)
  • 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith), thinly sliced
  • ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
  • ⅓ cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Place chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for 4-5 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  2. Make the dressing: In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds until emulsified. Taste and adjust.
  3. Prep the apples and onion: Wash apples and slice into ¼-inch thick slices. Thinly slice red onion. If desired, soak onion slices in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the bite, then drain and pat dry.
  4. Assemble the salad: Place arugula in a large salad bowl. Add sliced apples, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and red onion. Toss gently to distribute.
  5. Add cheese and dressing: Crumble goat cheese over the top. Drizzle about half the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Add more dressing as needed.
  6. Serve immediately: Best eaten right away while apples are crisp and arugula is fresh. If serving later, keep dressing and cheese separate and add just before serving.

Notes

Toast pecans low and slow to avoid burning. Slice apples just before serving to prevent browning. Don’t overdress the salad—start with half the dressing and add more as needed. Let goat cheese come to room temperature for easier crumbling. Use your hands to toss for even distribution.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall harvest salad, apple goat cheese salad, healthy salad, maple dressing, Thanksgiving salad, arugula salad, pecan salad

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/healthy-fall-harvest-salad-with-apples-and-goat-cheese/