Description
A bright, crunchy salad of mixed greens tossed with tart dried cranberries, toasted pecans, crumbled feta, crisp apple slices, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, perfect for weeknights or holiday tables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 medium apple, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: If toasting pecans, warm a small skillet over medium heat.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large salad bowl, add 6 cups mixed greens, 1 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 small thinly sliced red onion, and 1 medium thinly sliced apple if using.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Toast 1 cup pecans in the warm skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned, then transfer to a plate to cool.
- Assemble the Dish: Add the cooled toasted pecans and 3/4 cup crumbled feta to the salad bowl.
- Cook to Perfection: No further cooking required, simply combine the prepared ingredients gently.
- Finishing Touches: Drizzle 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and toss lightly to coat, adding more dressing sparingly if needed.
- Serve and Enjoy: Transfer to a serving platter or individual plates and serve immediately while greens are crisp.
Notes
- Toast the pecans just before assembling for maximum crunch and flavor.
- Keep dressing separate until ready to serve to prevent soggy greens.
- Toss apple slices in a little lemon juice to prevent browning if preparing ahead.
- Store components separately in airtight containers for up to 2 to 3 days and assemble just before eating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: cranberry pecan salad, mixed greens salad, holiday salad, winter salad, pecan cranberry salad