Autumn Harvest Apple Salad with Feta and Toasted Pecans Recipe
This Autumn Harvest Apple Salad is a fresh, vibrant dish perfect for fall. Featuring crisp Honeycrisp apples, mixed greens, tangy feta cheese, and toasted pecans, all tossed in a flavorful balsamic vinaigrette, it offers a delightful balance of sweet, savory, and nutty flavors with a satisfying crisp texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Greens
- 2 medium Honeycrisp Apples, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 4 cups Mixed Greens, washed and thoroughly dried
Dairy
- 1 cup crumbled Feta Cheese
Nuts
- ½ cup Pecans
Dressing
- ¼ cup Balsamic Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Wash the Honeycrisp apples and dice them into bite-sized pieces. Rinse the mixed greens thoroughly under cold water and pat them completely dry to prevent sogginess.
- Toast Pecans: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and toast them for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until they turn golden brown and release a nutty aroma. Be careful not to burn them to avoid bitterness.
- Combine Base: In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, diced apples, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted pecans. Gently toss the ingredients together using clean hands or tongs to mix evenly without bruising the greens.
- Add Dressing: Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over the salad mixture. Toss again carefully to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing while maintaining the crispness of the apples and greens.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to individual plates or bowls immediately to preserve freshness. Optionally, add extra crumbled feta on top. Serve right away while the apples remain crisp and refreshing.
Notes
- Choose Honeycrisp apples for their exceptional crunch and balanced sweet-tart flavor that resists browning quickly after cutting.
- Toast pecans until they smell nutty and turn golden brown, but watch carefully to prevent burning which leads to bitterness.
- Dry greens thoroughly after washing to avoid diluting the vinaigrette and creating a soggy salad texture.
- Add dressing just before serving to maintain crisp textures and prevent wilting of delicate lettuce leaves.
Keywords: Autumn salad, apple salad, fall salad, honeycrisp apples, feta cheese, toasted pecans, balsamic vinaigrette, mixed greens, vegetarian salad