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Grab some fresh Fall ingredients and make this Fall Salad ASAP. A harvest salad of pears and apples sitting on a green salad bed and topped with candied pecans, this salad is what your next gathering needs.

Though this recipe isn’t as simple as opening a bag and pouring it into a bowl, it isn’t difficult to put together and is so worth it for each crunchy pecan, sweet and tart apple, and soft piece of lettuce.

Treat yourself to this Fall salad recipe. It’s a green salad your tastebuds can’t afford not to enjoy. It can be savored over lunch, as well as used as an edible centerpiece at the next dinner party. I promise this decadent salad won’t disappoint.

Table of ContentsRecipe IngredientsEasy Recipe SwapsHow to Make the Best Fall SaladFAQsMore Fall RecipesFestive Fall Salad Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

This green salad is made with six ingredients, yet the sixth is a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Here’s the low-down for what you need:

Mixed greens: Find a mix with bigger leaves if you want to plate your salad like mine, or find whatever you prefer.

Pear: Make sure the pear is ripe! Don’t throw in a hard, bland one.

Apple: I use Honeycrisp in this recipe since it’s super sweet and easy to cut up.

Dried cherries: I know cranberries are more common, yet I like the tartness that cherries bring and they pair so well with the dressing.

Candied pecans: You could swap this with just some roasted pecans yet, why would you deprive yourself of these delightful nuts? They are easy to make and really elevate this dish.

Balsamic vinegar: Find one with good flavor. If you can, find a local shop that sells oil and vinegar so you can sample before you buy.

Olive oil: When I use olive oil in a dressing I make sure it is higher quality than what I use for regular cooking. This is because the flavor is much more prominent in dressing and you can tell when the oil isn’t great.

Shallot: This is a milder, smaller version of an onion.

Dijon mustard: Go for the flavorful mustard! There isn’t much added to this dish so it won’t be spicy, just a touch of flavor to offset the sweeter ingredients.

Spices: To season I’m using sea salt, ground black pepper and an Italian seasoning blend that has the perfect finish.

Easy Recipe Swaps

This salad can easily grace your Thanksgiving table as a centerpiece even though it’s a side dish. Make the ingredients work for your meal! Swap the mixed greens with the leafy greens of your choice.

Use dried cranberries or dried blueberries in place of the dried cherries. Swap the shallot with a yellow or red onion.

Swap the balsamic vinegar with apple cider vinegar for a tangier dressing. Shaved Brussels sprouts can add to the greens while radishes can kick the crunch level and textures up a bit.

How to Make the Best Fall Salad

This salad really is simple to make, which is one of the reasons I love it! I recommend putting it together right before you serve it to keep everything super fresh.

Start by making the dressing. Add all the dressing ingredients to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until well combined. Alternatively, whisk dressing ingredients in a jar. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Thinly slice the pear and apple to lay throughout the bed of mixed greens.

Combine all the greens with half the sliced pear and apple, all the dried cherries and half the candied pecans in a large bowl. Drizzle that mixture with a bit of the dressing then toss again.

Plate and layer the remaining fruit slices and pecans on top. Serve with the remaining dressing on the side so that people can use as much or as little as they want.

You can make the dressing ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to prepare the salad, just give it a good shake before using it.

More Fall Recipes

This might just be my favorite season for fresh produce as there are unique things that come in the Autumn that are just so warm and vibrant. Here are a few recipes I’ve got on my weekly menu this season:

Mason Jar Salad: fall fresh ingredients that are perfect for an on-the-go kind of day, because we all need fresh fast food sometimes!

Vegan Pumpkin Soup: This creamy dish is perfect for a chilly night.

Maple Pumpkin Fall Smoothie: Gorgeously colored and fabulous tasting this is such a fun, Fall smoothie option.

Loaded Sweet Potato: A fan-fav here at Simple Green Smoothies that you are going to love, too!

What ingredients and flavors are you most excited for this Fall? I’d love it if you left a comment with your top fall ingredients, as well as your favorite recipes.

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