Apple Salad with Cranberries, Pecans & Maple Cider Vinaigrette

nibbleboard.com/recipes/apple-salad

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crispy and golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and chop once cool enough to handle.
2. Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and slightly darkened, about 3-4 minutes. Remove immediately to prevent burning.
3. Make the vinaigrette: Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until well blended. Alternatively, add everything to a mason jar, cover, and shake vigorously.
4. Core the apples and slice them thinly into half-moon shapes. Leave the skin on for color and crunch.
5. Layer the spring lettuce mix in a large salad bowl. Top with sliced apples, toasted pecans, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, chopped bacon, and red onion strips.
6. Drizzle the maple cider vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
7. Serve immediately after dressing — the greens stay crispest when eaten right away.

Nutrition per Serving

Chef Tips

• Use crisp, sweet apple varieties like Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji — they hold up best in salads and won't turn mealy. Avoid Red Delicious, which gets soft quickly.
• Toast pecans in a dry skillet rather than the oven for more control — they go from toasted to burnt in seconds.
• Make the vinaigrette up to 5 days ahead and store in the fridge. Give it a good shake before using since the oil will separate.
• If you want to prep ahead, keep the dressing, greens, and toppings in separate containers and assemble just before serving to prevent wilting.
• Turn this into a main course by adding sliced grilled chicken breast or tossing in cooked farro or quinoa for extra protein and fiber.

Storage

Undressed salad components keep separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Once dressed, the salad is best eaten within 1 hour as the greens will wilt.