The Zesty Apple Arugula Salad with Maple Pecans Recipe

Crisp fall days call for a delightful apple arugula salad that surprises your taste buds with unexpected flavor combinations.

Seasonal produce transforms into something magical when you mix sharp greens with sweet fruit.

Maple-roasted pecans add a stunning crunch that makes each bite memorable.

Sharp arugula provides a peppery backdrop to juicy apple slices that dance across the plate.

Bright and refreshing, this salad feels like an autumn celebration in a bowl.

Subtle maple notes complement the natural sweetness of ripe apples, creating a harmony that will make you want to savor every single forkful.

You’ll want to make this recipe again and again.

What Makes Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans So Tasty

• Craft Gourmet Flavors: Elevate your salad game with an incredible combination of sweet maple pecans, tangy goat cheese, and peppery arugula that creates a restaurant-quality dish at home.
• Super Simple Preparation: Mix, bake pecans, chop ingredients, and toss – no complicated techniques required, making this recipe perfect for home cooks of all skill levels.
• Nutrient-Packed Powerhouse: Packed with fresh ingredients like arugula, apples, and pecans, this salad delivers amazing health benefits while satisfying your taste buds with complex flavor profiles.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for lunch, dinner, potlucks, or as a stunning side dish that appeals to both vegetarians and health-conscious food lovers seeking delicious, vibrant meals.

Ingredients For Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans

• Arugula: A peppery green that provides a fresh and zesty foundation for the salad.

• Apple, Figs, Red Onion: A combination of sweet, chewy, and sharp flavors that add texture and depth to the salad.

• Goat Cheese: A creamy, tangy cheese that adds richness and complements the other ingredients.

• Pecans, Maple Syrup, Sea Salt: Toasted nuts with a sweet and salty coating that bring a crunchy element to the salad.

• Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Dijon Mustard, Black Pepper, Garlic, Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt: A balanced and flavorful dressing that ties all the salad components together with a harmonious blend of tangy, sweet, and savory notes.

Simple Steps For Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350°F, getting ready for pecan magic.

Step 2: Dress the Pecans

• maple syrup
• sea salt

Step 3: Prepare Pecan Tray

Spread pecans in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they’re not crowding each other.

Step 4: Toast Pecans to Perfection

Bake pecans for 5-7 minutes until they turn golden and release a nutty aroma, watching carefully to prevent burning.

Step 5: Cool Down Pecans

Remove pecans from oven and let them chill completely, allowing them to crisp up.

Step 6: Whip Up Tangy Dressing

• olive oil
• maple syrup
• lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• black pepper
• minced garlic
• balsamic vinegar
• sea salt

Shake or whisk until ingredients harmonize beautifully.

Step 7: Taste and Adjust Dressing

Sample the dressing and tweak seasonings to your liking.

Step 8: Build the Salad Base

Scatter fresh arugula in a large salad bowl.

Step 9: Layer Flavor Companions

• sliced apples
• chopped figs
• red onion
• goat cheese crumbles
• cooled maple pecans

Step 10: Dress and Toss

Drizzle about half the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat everything evenly.

Step 11: Serve and Enjoy

Plate the salad and serve remaining dressing on the side for extra zesty drizzling.

Pro Tips For Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans

• Perfectly Toast Pecans: Watch carefully during baking to prevent burning, ensuring a golden-brown color and rich maple flavor without charring.
• Prevent Apple Browning: Toss apple slices with a splash of lemon juice immediately after cutting to maintain their fresh, crisp appearance and prevent oxidation.
• Balance Dressing Intensity: Adjust the vinegar and maple syrup ratios to create a harmonious sweet-tangy profile that complements the peppery arugula.
• Enhance Texture Contrast: Layer ingredients strategically, placing creamy goat cheese and crunchy pecans on top for a delightful mouthfeel in every bite.
• Prep Ahead Smartly: Make maple pecans and dressing in advance, storing separately to maintain crispness and freshness until just before serving.

Creative Twists On Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans

• Pear and Spinach Swap: Replace apples with sliced pears and swap arugula for baby spinach, creating a milder, smoother flavor profile with similar seasonal freshness.
• Vegan Cheese Option: Substitute goat cheese with crumbled almond-based vegan cheese and use maple-agave dressing for a completely plant-based version that maintains the original recipe's complexity.
• Gluten-Free Nutty Alternative: Use candied walnuts instead of pecans and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free, perfect for those with wheat sensitivities while keeping the salad's elegant texture.
• Low-Carb Green Remix: Eliminate fruits, increase leafy greens, add grilled chicken strips, and reduce maple syrup in dressing for a protein-packed, lower-carbohydrate meal that still delivers robust flavors.

What Pairs Well With Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans

• Pair Sparkling White Wine: Crisp, refreshing Prosecco or Champagne perfectly complements the salad's bright, tangy flavors and cuts through the creamy goat cheese.
• Complement with Roasted Chicken: Grilled or roasted chicken breast provides a lean protein that balances the salad's sweet and peppery notes, creating a satisfying light meal.
• Match with Creamy Blue Cheese Crostini: Toasted bread topped with rich blue cheese echoes the salad's goat cheese element while adding a crunchy texture contrast.
• Enhance with Honey Wheat Beer: A light, slightly sweet wheat beer mirrors the maple syrup's sweetness and refreshes the palate between bites of the complex salad.

How To Store Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans

• Store arugula, apple slices, pecans, and dressing in separate airtight containers to prevent sogginess and maintain crispness for up to 2 days.
• Keep maple pecans in a sealed container at room temperature for maximum 5 days to retain their crunchy texture and sweet flavor.
• Seal dressing in a glass jar with tight lid and refrigerate for 3-4 days; shake well before reusing to remix separated ingredients.
• Consume cold or at room temperature since this salad contains delicate ingredients like arugula and goat cheese that don't respond well to warming.

FAQs About Apple Arugula Salad With Maple Pecans

• Are maple pecans difficult to make?

Maple pecans are super easy to make. Simply toss pecan halves with maple syrup and sea salt, then bake for 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted and fragrant.

• Can I substitute arugula with another green?

Yes, you can use baby spinach, mixed greens, or kale as alternatives to arugula. Each green will give a slightly different flavor and texture to the salad.

• How do I prevent the apple slices from browning?

Toss apple slices with a little lemon juice right after cutting. The acid helps prevent oxidation and keeps the apples looking fresh and crisp in the salad.

Apple Arugula Salad with Maple Pecans Recipe

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4.9 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 17 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Crisp arugula dances with sweet apples and crunchy maple-glazed pecans in this fresh salad celebration. Balanced flavors and textures invite you to savor a delightful medley of seasonal ingredients that sing with elegant simplicity.

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Ingredients

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Salad Ingredients:

• 3 apples (thinly sliced)
• 5 ounces (141.75 grams) arugula
• 0.5 cup chopped figs
• 0.5 cup goat cheese crumbles
• 0.25 cup red onion (thinly sliced)

Maple Pecans:

• 1 cup pecan halves
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 pinch sea salt

Dressing Ingredients:

• 0.5 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1.5 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25–0.5 teaspoon sea salt (to taste)

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Instructions

1. Prepare maple pecans by combining them with maple syrup and sea salt, ensuring even coating.
2. Spread pecans on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted and fragrant.
3. Allow pecans to cool completely, developing a crisp texture and caramelized flavor.
4. Create vinaigrette by whisking olive oil, maple syrup, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, black pepper, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt until smooth and well-blended.
5. Taste dressing and adjust seasoning to achieve balanced tanginess and sweetness.
6. Layer fresh arugula in a large salad bowl as the green base.
7. Artfully arrange sliced apples, chopped figs, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled goat cheese over the arugula.
8. Sprinkle cooled maple pecans across the salad for added crunch and nutty sweetness.
9. Drizzle approximately half the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, gently tossing to ensure even coating.
10. Serve immediately with remaining dressing on the side, allowing guests to customize their salad’s flavor intensity.

Notes

• Toast pecans carefully to prevent burning, watching them closely during the 5-7 minute baking time.
• Make maple pecans ahead of time and store in an airtight container to save preparation time.
• Swap goat cheese with plant-based alternatives like cashew cheese for a vegan version of the salad.
• Slice apples just before serving to maintain their crisp texture and prevent browning.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 410 kcal
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 160 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg