Harvest Fall Salad

This Harvest Apple and Pear Fall Salad tossed in Apple Cider Vinaigrette is made with fresh greens, crisp Autumn fruit, smoky bacon, tangy feta and sweet-sticky cider dressing. This recipe makes for the perfect hearty fall lunch or supper side salad!

Ingredients

For the Salad

7 oz mixed green salad rinsed

1 pear thinly sliced

1 apple thinly sliced

1/3 cup dried cranberries

4 cooked bacon slices chopped

1/3 cup feta cheese

For the Dressing

1 cup apple cider

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 tbsp minced shallots

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1 tbsp honey

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the Salad

Combine all salad ingredients into a large bowl and toss together.

For the Vinaigrette

Add apple cider, apple cider vinegar and shallots to a small pan over high heat.

Bring the liquids to a boil and cook for about 7 or 8 minutes or until it has reduced to about ½ cup then remove from heat.

Allow cider liquid to cool slightly then add to a bowl.

Whisk in remaining ingredients until it is completely smooth and well mixed.

Pour over salad and toss together and serve.

Notes

Make the salad your own! Change up the ingredients and use other fall produce such as figs, roasted sweet potatoes or butternut squash, and add on some crunchy toppings such as pecans, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts. You can even swap the feta cheese for blue cheese!

Crisp and tart apples such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples work best for making salads!

If making ahead of time, toss the apples and pears in some lemon juice to keep them from browning or wait until the last minute to chop them up.