Autumn Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Indulge in the flavors of fall with this delightful Autumn Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette. This vibrant dish combines crisp greens, tart apples, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy pecans, all topped with savory bacon and creamy feta cheese. Drizzled with a homemade apple cider vinaigrette, it strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tangy. Easy to prepare in just 15 minutes, this salad is ideal for busy weeknights or festive gatherings. Serve it as a main course or side dish, and enjoy the seasonal freshness that will impress your family and friends.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups crisp Romaine or Green Leaf lettuce, chopped (approximately 1 head of lettuce)
- 2 medium tart red apples, cored and diced (recommended: Fuji or Honeycrisp)
- 1 cup dried cranberries (sub: fresh pomegranate seeds)
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted (see Cooking Notes)
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (try baking it ahead of time)
- 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese (sub: Gorgonzola crumbles)
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (sub: honey)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing by combining olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a jar. Shake well to mix.
- In a large bowl, combine chopped lettuce, diced apples, cranberries, toasted pecans, crumbled bacon, and feta cheese.
- Drizzle about two-thirds of the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately with remaining dressing on the side.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (200g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 25mg