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Fresh Cranberry Pecan Salad with Goat Cheese

Fresh Cranberry Pecan Salad with Goat Cheese - featured image
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A vibrant and easy-to-make salad combining fresh cranberries, toasted pecans, mixed greens, and creamy goat cheese, perfect for holiday sides or casual meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
  • 6 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, spring mix)
  • 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium apple, thinly sliced (preferably Honeycrisp)
  • Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and toast for about 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and slightly darker. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake vigorously until emulsified. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  3. Prep the produce: Rinse and dry the salad greens. Thinly slice the red onion and apple. Pick over the fresh cranberries, discarding any stems or blemished berries.
  4. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, sliced apple, red onion, and fresh cranberries. Drizzle about half the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
  5. Add pecans and goat cheese: Sprinkle toasted pecans and crumbled goat cheese over the top. Drizzle remaining dressing just before serving or serve on the side.
  6. Final touch: Toss gently once more if desired for even dressing distribution. Serve immediately for best freshness and texture.

Notes

Toast pecans carefully to avoid burning. Use fresh cranberries for best flavor; soak dried cranberries if substituting. Thinly slice apples and toss quickly in lemon juice if prepping ahead to prevent browning. Dress salad just before serving to avoid sogginess. Dressing can be made ahead and refrigerated; shake well before use.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry salad, pecan salad, goat cheese salad, holiday side dish, fresh cranberry salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad

Find it online: https://flurpchef.com/fresh-cranberry-pecan-salad-with-goat-cheese-easy-homemade-recipe-for-holiday-sides/