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Fall Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette Recipe

Fall Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 9 reviews

A vibrant and flavorful Fall Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette featuring crisp mixed greens, sweet and tart apples, crunchy candied nuts, savory bacon, and tangy blue cheese, all tossed in a maple-infused apple cider dressing. Perfect for celebrating autumn’s bounty with a balance of textures and tastes.

Ingredients

Scale

Dressing

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 tsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp. coarse salt (sea salt or kosher salt)
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Salad

  • 6–8 cups mixed greens
  • 1 small sweet red apple, thinly sliced
  • 1 small Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
  • 8 slices bacon, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup candied walnuts or pecans
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (or substitute dried cranberries)
  • 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled (can substitute feta cheese or omit)

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon pieces and cook for 6-8 minutes until they are crisp and browned. Once done, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
  2. Make the dressing: While the bacon is cooking, combine the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl or medium jar. Whisk vigorously or shake until the dressing is well emulsified and smooth.
  3. Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, place the mixed greens as the base. Evenly distribute the thinly sliced sweet red and Granny Smith apples, cooked bacon, candied nuts, red onion, pomegranate seeds, and crumbled blue cheese on top. Drizzle the prepared Apple Cider Vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately for the freshest taste.

Notes

  • Substitute feta cheese or omit cheese altogether for a milder or dairy-free option.
  • Use dried cranberries if fresh pomegranate seeds are unavailable.
  • For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and add roasted chickpeas or grilled tofu for protein.
  • Adjust the maple syrup quantity in the dressing to taste depending on desired sweetness.
  • Serve the dressing on the side if preparing in advance to keep greens crisp.

Nutrition

Keywords: Fall salad, apple cider vinaigrette, autumn salad, mixed greens, bacon salad, maple dressing, candied nuts, fresh apples, blue cheese salad

Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/fall-salad-with-apple-cider-vinaigrette-recipe/