Harvest Salad

Why You’ll Love This Harvest Salad Recipe

My fall harvest salad recipe makes the most of gorgeous fall flavors including juicy apples and pears. I love serving this salad as a Thanksgiving side dish in a nod to the season. Then make it again and even heartier by folding in some of your leftover holiday turkey or a crockpot turkey breast!

This salad makes a filling lunch along with a gluten free roll, or you can round it out into a bigger meal with grilled meat, butternut squash soup, or other sides. It’s a beautifully simple recipe that’s finished with a maple-infused balsamic dressing to complement its flavors. Here’s why you’ll love this salad:

• Hearty. Plenty of crunchy, sweet nuts, apples, pear slices, and feta cheese make this into a filling salad that is great as a lighter lunch along with fresh bread or a bowl of soup, or as a side dish to a meat main.
• Wonderful fall flavors. I like to think of this as a Thanksgiving salad because of the dried cranberries and fall fruit mixed into the greens. Then, a bit of maple syrup in the dressing ties all the fall flavors together with a touch of natural sweetness.
• Festive. The bright cranberries tucked among the fresh greens add such a lovely festive touch. While I certainly will make this salad on an ordinary weeknight, I think it’s especially nice to serve on the holiday table.

Tips & Variations

This salad takes well to additions such as protein or other types of dressing. You can also round it out into a more filling meal with leftover roasted poultry or keep it vegetarian with a handful of beans. Here are some more ideas:

• Use fresh ingredients. Opt for fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. This includes crisp salad greens, ripe fruits, and good-quality balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.
• Whisk the dressing well. Make sure to whisk the dressing ingredients together thoroughly to ensure they emulsify properly. This will create a smooth and well-combined dressing that coats the salad evenly.
• Add protein. For a heartier salad, add turkey or chicken (this is a great way to incorporate leftover Thanksgiving turkey or Rosemary Balsamic Chicken). Or you can add a hard boiled egg or two (learn How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs perfectly in this post) or 1 cup of drained chickpeas or white beans.
• Try some ingredient substitutions. You can experiment with the ingredients in this salad if you wish. For example, swap the pecans for walnuts, the craberries for another dried fruit, and use spinach for the greens.
• More fall flavor. I love adding chunks of butternut squash to this salad, and my recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash will add sweet-salty flavor and color.
• How do I prevent the apples and pears from browning? If you’re preparing the salad in advance, you can toss the sliced apples and pears with a little lemon juice or pineapple juice to prevent them from browning. The acidity of the lemon juice helps to slow down the oxidation process.
• Other dressing options. Switch up the dressing and try another flavor variety. Some other homemade dressing options include my Maple Dijon Dressing, rich Creamy Balsamic Dressing, or add extra salty flavor with Warm Maple Bacon Salad Dressing.

Proper Storage

Place leftover salad in an airtight container as soon as possible and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Or, store the salad components in separate containers and assemble it before serving. You can prepare the dressing ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just give it a good shake or whisk before using it, as the ingredients may separate slightly.