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Best Harvest Fall Salad with Quick Maple Vinaigrette

harvest fall salad with maple vinaigrette - featured image
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A quick and easy fall salad with crisp apples, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and a tangy-sweet maple vinaigrette. Ready in under 15 minutes, it’s perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

  • Mixed salad greens (6 cups or 180g)
  • Apple (1 large, thinly sliced)
  • Dried cranberries (1/2 cup or 60g)
  • Walnuts (1/2 cup or 60g, roughly chopped)
  • Pumpkin seeds (1/4 cup or 30g)
  • Crumbled feta cheese (1/3 cup or 50g)
  • Red onion (1/4 small, thinly sliced)
  • Pure maple syrup (3 tablespoons or 60ml)
  • Apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons or 30ml)
  • Extra virgin olive oil (1/4 cup or 60ml)
  • Dijon mustard (1 teaspoon)
  • Smoked paprika (1/4 teaspoon)
  • Salt and black pepper (to taste)
  • Garlic (1 small clove, minced, optional)

Instructions

  1. Toast the walnuts and pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  2. In a small bowl or mason jar, combine maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and minced garlic (if using). Whisk or shake until emulsified.
  3. Thinly slice the apple and red onion. If sensitive to raw onion, soak slices in cold water for 10 minutes.
  4. In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, sliced apple, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and red onion. Toss gently.
  5. Drizzle about half the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat. Add more dressing as needed. Sprinkle crumbled feta on top. Serve immediately.

Notes

Toast nuts fresh for best flavor. Don’t overdress the salad; start with half the dressing and add more as needed. Slice apples right before serving to prevent browning. Let dressing come to room temperature before using if made ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: fall salad, harvest salad, maple vinaigrette, quick salad, easy salad, Thanksgiving salad, apple salad, walnut salad

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/best-harvest-fall-salad-with-quick-maple-vinaigrette/