Pecan and Apple Salad is my go-to salad for potlucks. Candied pecans, fresh apples, and cheese make this salad unique and full of flavor!

Pecan and Apple Salad is my go-to salad for potlucks. Candied pecans, fresh apples, and cheese make this salad unique and full of flavor! #apple #pecan #salad
 
 

PECAN AND APPLE SALAD 

I’m guilty of picking out the marshmallows of the Lucky Charms cereal, for licking just the frosting off a slice of cake, and for eating just the pepperonis off the pizza. I’m a topping picker. So sue me. Or just don’t share anything with me. That would be no fun…for you.

Salads are no exception. By the time I’m done eating a salad, all of the goodies are gone with just a bunch of lettuce left.

Although it does have a lot of toppings for me to pick off, I enjoy the whole salad. The apples and gorgonzola cheese are the perfect compliment to each other but you can really use any cheese like feta or blue cheese.

Recently I was in charge of making the salad for over 200 women for a church event. This is the salad I made because I knew it would be a hit.

 
The hardest part about this salad is the candied pecans. They definitely make the salad so you can’t skip them. Just make sure you give them a good 5-7 minutes of your undivided attention. You can do it. The key is to keep stirring continuously so that your sugar and pecans don’t burn.
 
 
I know that that’s a whole lot of apple and cheese below, but remember I was making this salad for 200 women. This is actually just half of the ingredients I prepared. Keep the skins on your apples for some color.
 
You can buy pre-crumbled Gorgonzola, feta, or blue cheese…or buy it in a chunk and chop it yourself. You want small pieces because a little of this cheese goes a long way.
One of my favorite salads!
Pecan and Apple Salad is my go-to salad for potlucks. Candied pecans, fresh apples, and cheese make this salad unique and full of flavor! #apple #pecan #salad

OTHER SALAD RECIPES

Pecan and Apple Salad is my go-to salad for potlucks. Candied pecans, fresh apples, and cheese make this salad unique and full of flavor! #apple #pecan #salad

Apple and Pecan Salad

4.12 from 9 votes
Toppings make all the difference. They can turn a boring salad into the best main course salad!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup pecan halves or pieces
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 6 cups of Romaine lettuce or other mixed greens
  • 1 large or 2 small apples, cored and diced (I like to use Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Gala)
  • 1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese, feta, or blue cheese

Honey Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing(see Note):

  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1-2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions
 

  • To make the candied pecans, pour the sugar in a small skillet and pour the pecans on top. Cook over medium heat until sugar melts and turns a caramel color stirring constantly so that the nuts and sugar do not burn. Be patient! It takes a while for the sugar to start melting. Once the sugar turns a caramel color coat keep stirring to coat the pecans with it. Pour pecans onto greased wax paper or aluminum foil to cool. Once pecans are cooled, break them into pieces.
  • Note: If you happen to get to a point where your sugar will not melt and is just clumping, a quick fix is to add 1 tablespoon of water to the pan over the heat to get the sugar liquefied. Your pecans will not be as crisp but still taste yummy. Trust me, I made about 20 batches of these pecans and I got a little distracted during a couple of batches and wasn't stirring like I should.
  • Place lettuce in a serving bowl and add apples, cheese, and pecans. Toss with dressing right before serving or let people add their own dressing.
  • For the dressing: In a blender, combine vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper. Place lid on blender and blend on high. While blender is running, add oil in a steady stream. Store in refrigerator for about 2-3 weeks. Shake well before serving.
Serving: 1/4 of recipe, Calories: 593kcal, Carbohydrates: 58g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 40g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 26g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 755mg, Potassium: 347mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 53g, Vitamin A: 6280IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 116mg, Iron: 2mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Salad
Pecan and Apple Salad is my go-to salad for potlucks. Candied pecans, fresh apples, and cheese make this salad unique and full of flavor! #apple #pecan #salad