Description
Sweet, spicy, tangy, and fresh—this salad has it all. Crisp apples, creamy goat cheese, chewy dried cherries, and smoky spiced pecans come together over tender greens, all brought to life with a luscious fig vinaigrette. It’s the perfect balance of flavors for any season or occasion.
Ingredients
Spiced Pecans:
1 cup whole pecans
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp chipotle chili powder
Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste
Fig Vinaigrette:
½ cup apple cider vinegar
4–6 tbsp fig preserves (adjust to taste)
4 garlic cloves, finely minced or pressed
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salad:
12–16 cups baby arugula and/or spring greens
Kosher salt & black pepper, to taste
2 Honeycrisp apples, thinly sliced
⅔ cup dried tart cherries or cranberries
4–6 oz goat cheese, crumbled
Instructions
Make Spiced Pecans: In a skillet over medium heat, toast pecans with brown sugar, chipotle powder, salt, and pepper until glazed and fragrant—about 5–7 minutes. Let cool completely.
Prepare Vinaigrette: Whisk together vinegar, fig preserves, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Slowly stream in olive oil while whisking until fully emulsified.
Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, toss greens with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add sliced apples, dried cherries, goat cheese, and cooled pecans.
Dress & Serve: Drizzle with fig vinaigrette just before serving and toss lightly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5–7 mins (pecans)
Nutrition
- Calories: 370 / Serving
- Fat: 28g / Serving
- Carbohydrates: 26g / Serving
- Protein: 6g / Serving