Autumn Harvest Salad with Feta, Apples, and Spiced Pecans
Embrace the flavors of fall with this delightful Autumn Harvest Salad, featuring crisp boston and red leaf lettuces, sweet Red Delicious apples, and creamy crumbled feta cheese, all elevated by the crunch of spiced pecans. This salad perfectly balances savory and sweet, making it an ideal dish for a light lunch, a festive gathering, or as a vibrant side for dinner. Quick and easy to prepare, it's ready in under 30 minutes, allowing you to enjoy this refreshing and satisfying meal any time of the day.
N/A
Servings
363
Calories
14
Ingredients
Ingredients
Boston lettuce
1 head (torn)
Red leaf lettuce
1 head (torn)
Red Delicious apple
1 (unpeeled and finely chopped)
Feta cheese
8 ounces (crumbled)
Olive oil
1/2 cup (none)
White wine vinegar
2 tablespoons (none)
Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon (none)
Salt
1.25 teaspoons (divided)
Black pepper
1/8 teaspoon (freshly ground)
Unsalted butter
3 tablespoons (melted)
Ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon (none)
Ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon (none)
Hot sauce
1 dash (none)
Pecan halves
1 2/3 cups (none)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) for the spiced pecans.
2
In a medium bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, ground cinnamon, ground red pepper, and a dash of hot sauce. Stir until well incorporated.
3
Add the pecan halves to the butter mixture and stir to ensure all pecans are evenly coated.
4
Spread the coated pecans in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet placed on a wire rack.
5
In a large bowl, gently combine the torn boston lettuce, torn red leaf lettuce, finely chopped Red Delicious apple, crumbled feta cheese, and the cooled spiced pecans.
6
For the dressing, mix together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a jar. Seal the jar tightly and shake vigorously until well emulsified.
7
Drizzle the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently until everything is well coated. Serve immediately and enjoy the freshness!
Nutrition Information
29g
Fat
19g
Carbs
7.5g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Autumn Harvest Salad?
It is a fall-inspired salad featuring Boston and red leaf lettuces, Red Delicious apples, crumbled feta cheese, and spiced pecans.
What types of lettuce are used in this recipe?
The recipe uses one head of Boston lettuce and one head of red leaf lettuce, both torn into pieces.
Which apple variety is recommended?
The recipe specifically calls for one unpeeled and finely chopped Red Delicious apple.
What kind of cheese is added to the salad?
The salad includes 8 ounces of crumbled feta cheese.
How are the spiced pecans prepared?
Pecans are coated in a mixture of melted butter, salt, cinnamon, red pepper, and hot sauce, then baked at 300°F for 15 minutes.
What is the baking temperature for the pecans?
The oven should be preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit or 150 degrees Celsius.
How long do the pecans need to bake?
They should bake for 15 minutes, and you should stir them once halfway through.
What ingredients are in the salad dressing?
The dressing consists of olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Is this salad recipe gluten-free?
Yes, according to the recipe tags, this Autumn Harvest Salad is gluten-free.
How many calories are in a serving of this salad?
Each serving contains approximately 363 calories.
What is the total fat content per serving?
There are 29 grams of fat per serving.
How many carbohydrates are in this dish?
The salad contains 19 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
How much protein does this salad provide?
Each serving provides about 7.5 grams of protein.
How many ingredients are required for this recipe?
There are a total of 14 ingredients used in this recipe.
What type of vinegar is used for the dressing?
The dressing uses 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar.
What type of mustard is used in the dressing?
The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard.
How much olive oil is needed for the dressing?
You will need 1/2 cup of olive oil for the dressing.
How long does it take to prepare this salad?
The entire recipe can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
Do the pecans need to cool before being added to the lettuce?
Yes, they should cool completely on the baking sheet before being combined with the other ingredients.
Should I peel the Red Delicious apple?
No, the apple should be left unpeeled and finely chopped.
What type of butter is used for the pecans?
The recipe specifies 3 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter.
How much feta cheese is included?
The recipe calls for 8 ounces of crumbled feta cheese.
What spices give the pecans their flavor?
Ground cinnamon, ground red pepper, and salt are used to spice the pecans.
How should the dressing be mixed?
Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar, seal it tightly, and shake vigorously until emulsified.
Is this salad suitable for a festive gathering?
Yes, it is described as an ideal dish for festive gatherings or as a vibrant side for dinner.
How much salt is used in the entire recipe?
A total of 1.25 teaspoons of salt is used, divided between the pecans and the dressing.
How should the lettuce be prepared?
Both the Boston and red leaf lettuces should be torn.
Is there any spicy heat in this recipe?
Yes, the pecans include a dash of hot sauce and a 1/4 teaspoon of ground red pepper.
What are the main flavors of this salad?
The salad balances savory flavors from the feta and pecans with the sweetness of the apples.
Can this be served as a main meal?
Yes, it is suggested as an ideal dish for a light lunch.