Description
Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans is a crisp, sweet, and nutty salad combining peppery arugula, juicy crisp apples, and crunchy maple-glazed pecans. Enhanced with creamy goat cheese, thinly sliced red onions, and a balanced dressing of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and honey or maple syrup, this refreshing salad is quick to prepare, nutritious, and perfect as a light meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh arugula
- 2 crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Maple Pecans: Warm a pan over medium heat and toss pecans with pure maple syrup until they become lightly caramelized and glossy. Spread them out on parchment paper to cool and harden, achieving a perfect crunch.
- Wash and Dry the Arugula: Rinse fresh arugula leaves thoroughly to remove any grit. Dry completely using a salad spinner or clean towel to keep the salad crisp.
- Slice the Apples and Onions: Core and thinly slice the crisp apples to create tender yet crunchy bites. Slice the red onion paper-thin to ensure a mild sharpness and vibrant color.
- Whisk the Dressing: In a bowl, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey or maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and emulsified, creating a perfectly balanced dressing.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, gently toss arugula, apples, red onions, and maple pecans together. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss lightly to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the leaves.
- Add Goat Cheese and Serve: Scatter the crumbled goat cheese over the salad just before serving to add a creamy tangy finish that balances the other flavors.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients: Choose crisp apples and vibrant arugula to maximize flavor and texture.
- Control the dressing: Add dressing gradually to avoid overdressing and sogginess.
- Toast nuts lightly: Even without syrup, toasting pecans releases their natural oils and enhances crunch.
- Chill before serving: Letting the salad rest briefly in the fridge helps flavors meld beautifully.
- Slice apples evenly: Uniform slices ensure consistent texture and attractive presentation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg