Autumn Apple Pear Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
A crisp and refreshing fall salad that pairs sweet apples and pears with tangy feta and a zesty poppy seed dressing.
- Prep15 min
- Cook5 min
- Total20 min
- DifficultyEasy
- Servings4
This salad is a celebration of autumn's best produce: crisp apples, juicy pears, and a medley of greens. The poppy seed dressing, with its subtle sweetness and tang from rice vinegar, ties everything together beautifully.
It's incredibly easy to put together, making it perfect for a quick weeknight side or a festive holiday table. For a heartier meal, simply top it with grilled chicken or steak.
Ingredients
Servings
For the salad
For the dressing
Converted amounts are rounded.
Method
- In a large bowl, combine the spring mix, spinach, apple, pear, cranberries, and feta cheese. Set aside.
- In a small skillet over low heat, toast the pecans or almonds until golden brown and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, mustard, salt, grated onion, poppy seeds, rice vinegar, and canola oil until the sugar is dissolved and the dressing is emulsified.
- Add the cooled nuts to the salad and toss gently.
- Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Alternatively, dress only the portion you plan to serve and store the remaining salad and dressing separately.
💡 Tips
- For a main dish, top with grilled chicken or steak.
- Toast the nuts just before serving for maximum crunch.
- If making ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving.
Inspired by a recipe from My Kitchen Escapades