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Apple Cranberry Bacon Salad

Apple Cranberry Bacon Salad
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Apple Cranberry Bacon Salad offers a vibrant and delicious blend of sweet, tart, and savory flavors combined with delightful textures. Featuring crisp apples, tangy cranberries, smoky bacon, and crunchy nuts on a bed of fresh mixed greens, this versatile salad is perfect for lunches, dinners, or festive sides. Easy to prepare and balanced with fiber and protein, it’s a fresh, exciting dish to add to your recipe collection.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 2 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, or spring mix)
  • 2 fresh crisp apples (such as Granny Smith or Fuji), thinly sliced into wedges
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 4 slices crispy bacon, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

Vinaigrette

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the ingredients: Wash and dry the mixed greens thoroughly. Slice the apples into thin wedges to preserve their crispness. Cook the bacon slices until crisp and then chop into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onions. Toast the pecans or walnuts lightly in a dry pan until fragrant, taking care not to burn them.
  2. Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until the dressing is well emulsified. Adjust the sweetness or acidity as preferred.
  3. Assemble the salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced apples, dried cranberries, red onion slices, and toasted nuts. Drizzle the vinaigrette evenly over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients well.
  4. Add the bacon and serve: Sprinkle the crispy bacon pieces on top just before serving to maintain their crunch. Give the salad a light final toss, then serve immediately to enjoy the optimal flavors and textures.

Notes

  • Chill the greens and apples before assembling to keep the salad fresh and crisp.
  • Prepare the vinaigrette a day ahead to allow flavors to meld.
  • Toast nuts just until fragrant to avoid bitterness.
  • Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Fuji to prevent mushiness.
  • Add bacon at the last moment to maintain its crunchy texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple salad, cranberry salad, bacon salad, healthy salad, fall salad, cranberry bacon, mixed greens salad, simple vinaigrette

Find it online: https://marybaking.com/apple-cranberry-bacon-salad/