Description

A vibrant autumn salad featuring mixed greens, tart cranberries, toasted pecans, and creamy cheese tossed in a silky maple dressing. This easy-to-make side adds color, crunch, and seasonal flavor to any holiday or winter meal.

Ingredients

Scale

6 cups mixed salad greens (spinach, arugula, spring mix)

3/4 cup fresh or dried cranberries

1 cup pecans, halved

1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional)

1/2 apple, thinly sliced (optional)

3 tbsp pure maple syrup

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp Dijon mustard

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Rinse and dry salad greens thoroughly, then place in a large bowl.

2. Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 4–5 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant; let cool.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth.

4. Add cranberries, cooled pecans, red onion, and cheese to the greens; toss gently.

5. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss just before serving to coat evenly.

6. Serve immediately or refrigerate components separately and dress just before serving for maximum freshness.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: salad
Method: tossing
Cuisine: american

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 240
Sugar: 12
Sodium: 150
Fat: 18
Saturated Fat: 2
Unsaturated Fat: 14
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 18
Fiber: 3
Protein: 4
Cholesterol: 10

Keywords: cranberry pecan salad, maple dressing, thanksgiving salad, autumn salad, holiday salad, green salad, winter salad, easy salad, healthy salad