I've been making this Easy Apple Pecan Salad with blue cheese for years and it's always a hit. With a few simple ingredients, this tasty and satisfying salad could be on your table in a couple of minutes. Read on for tips and tricks that bring this salad to the next level!
Ingredients You'll Need
- Arugula
- Apples - I like to use small Honeycrisp or Jazz apples for this salad.
- Pecans - Toasted and chopped
- Blue Cheese - good quality blue cheese will take this salad to the next level. I like to use Stilton for this salad. If you don't like blue cheese you can substitute with goat cheese or feta.
- Dried Cranberries
- Poppyseed Dressing - homemade or store bought
Creating Texture Improves Flavor
This salad is all about texture. The way you cut the ingredients will amplify the flavor of the salad. Thinly sliced apple slices create a lighter texture and balance the chopped pecans nicely. If you are wanting to recreate restaurant-style salads, it is important to know about creating texture.
Here are my best tips for creating texture in this salad:
- Use small apples for best texture. I like to use Honeycrisp.
- Slice the apples into thin wedges.
- Toast the pecans and chop into varying sizes.
- Buy good quality blue cheese in a wedge if possible, so that you can control the size of the crumbles.
- Use a wild arugula or baby arugula. Arugula is easily found at most grocery stores.
- Use poppyseed dressing to add another layer of texture with the poppyseeds or buy a good quality poppyseed dressing, such as Brianna's.
Step By Step Instructions
- Add arugula to a large mixing bowl.
- Slice apples and add to the arugula. (Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the apples if you are making the salad in advance so that the apples don't brown.)
- Add dried cranberries.
- Chop and add pecans to the salad.
- Crumble the blue cheese over the pecans.
- Drizzle with poppyseed dressing.
- Toss well and serve.
- That's it! Super quick and easy salad!
Substitutions
- Apples - Pears
- Dried Cranberries - Raisins, golden raisins or currents.
- Blue Cheese - Feta cheese or goat cheese
- Pecans - Almonds or walnuts (toasted)
- Honey Poppyseed Dressing - Store bought Honey Poppyseed Dressing, like Briannas or Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Serving Recommendations
Serve as a light and flavorful salad alongside quiche or strata for brunch. Check out 50+ Ideas of What to Serve with Quiche by Two Cloves Kitchen for some more quiche side dish recommendations.
Make this salad the main meal by adding grilled chicken or bacon.
Serve with soup or a sandwich for a light and healthy lunch.
Use for a first course salad if you're doing a fancy sit down dinner. Serve this up with Rosemary and Olive Bread, Flat Iron Steak and Crispy Smashed Potatoes for a comforting but steakhouse style meal.
Easy Apple Pecan Salad with Blue Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 Cups Baby Arugula
- ½- 1 Small Apple sliced, *see notes
- ¼ Cup Dried Cranberries
- ¼ Cup Pecans Toasted and chopped
- ¼ Cup Blue Cheese I used stilton
- 3-4 tablespoon Honey Poppyseed Dressing *see notes
Instructions
- Add arugula to a large mixing bowl.
- Slice apples and add to the arugula. (Add a squeeze of lemon juice to the apples if you are making the salad in advance.)
- Add dried cranberries.
- Chop and add pecans to the salad.
- Crumble the blue cheese over the pecans
- Drizzle with poppyseed dressing.
- Toss well and serve.
Recipe Notes
- Use small apples for best texture. I like to use Honeycrisp or Jazz.
- Slice the apples into thin wedges.
- Toast the pecans and chop into varying sizes.
- Buy good quality blue cheese in a wedge if possible, so that you can control the size of the crumbles. I use Stilton for this recipe but there are many good blue cheeses out there that will work well.
- Use a wild arugula or baby arugula. Arugula is easily found at most grocery stores.
- Use poppyseed dressing to add another layer of texture with the poppyseeds or buy a good quality poppyseed dressing, such as Brianna's.
- If you are making this in advance, assemble the salad but wait to add the dressing until right before you serve salad.
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