Harvest Fall Salad

Apple and Pear Fall Salad tossed in Apple Cider Vinaigrette is made with fresh greens, crisp Autumn fruit, smoky bacon, tangy feta, and a sweet-sticky cider dressing. This fall Harvest Salad recipe makes for the perfect hearty fall lunch or supper side salad!

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I’m pretty excited every year when the Fall season rolls around especially all the autumn produce! Figs, pomegranates, pears, grapes and pumpkin all exist on the long list of delicious Fall fruits and veggies.

I find myself raiding farmer’s markets and bringing home more than I could ever eat. So, I make salads!

Salads are simple, refreshing meals that allow us to get creative and use what’s in the pantry! This Hearty Harvest Fall Salad is crisp and light while still being robust and filling. Believe me, this is a salad you’re going to crave.

If you enjoy salads combining sweet fruits and savory flavors you might also enjoy…

Ingredients

Here’s my take: salads should be simple. If I’ve gotta work hard to eat my greens is it really that worth it? Probably not. That’s where this quick, easy-to-toss-together salad comes in!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Mixed Greens: Be sure to use fresh, rinsed greens; they should be vibrant in color and crisp in texture. Avoid limp, discolored greens. I love using a mix that contains arugula, kale, spinach, and when I’m feeling fancy, mustard greens!
• Pear: Any variety will work but I suggest using a pear on the riper side; there should be a little give when you press into the skin. Anjous and Seckels are my favorite!
• Apple: Again, anything goes! I prefer to use Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious or Fuji.
• Chopped Bacon: Crisp, smoky bacon adds textural contrast and a salty, flavorful bite.
• Feta Cheese: It’s tangy, rich and slightly salty. The fat content also adds buttery richness!

For the Vinaigrette:

• Apple Cider: Cider is made from fermented apple juice which gives it a tangy, buttery taste. It’s almost like apple juice and white wine had a baby. Feel me? It makes for the perfect base to an Autumn-inspired salad.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Acidic vinegar helps to cut through fat and balance sweetness.
• Minced Shallots: Shallots are more delicate, softer and less abrasive than onions. I find that the flavor of a shallot is mellower and better suited for salads.
• Honey: Sticky and sweet, honey brings together the dressing and layers in sugary richness.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil just adds a bit of fat to make this salad as decadent as possible.

How to Make the Perfect Harvest Salad

Let’s be honest, salad recipes are never intended to be strictly followed; they’re designed to be made out of anything you’ve got. As long as you’ve got fresh greens, a few seasonal toppings and a yummy dressing, you’ve got a delicious salad in the making!

1. Place all the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Make the dressing. Heat the apple cider, apple cider vinegar and shallots in a small pan. Cook for about 7-8 minutes or until it has reduced to about one-half cup.
3. Cool and then whisk in the remaining ingredients
4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

Use the structure of this recipe as a base for your own creation. Add other fun Fall finds like pumpkin seeds, pecans, figs, Honey Glazed Carrots or even Roasted Butternut Squash with Mango.

What to Serve with Fall Salad

This fall salad recipe is perfect to serve up for the Thanksgiving holidays or any special occasion in the fall. But it’s also simple enough to serve for weeknight meals. You can even add a protein to it and turn it into a main course.

• Serve it up with Dutch Oven Pot Roast for a hearty fall dinner.
• Add it to your holiday table along with Turkey and Gravy, Southern Cornbread Dressing, and Sweet Potato Casserole.
• Combine it with White Lasagna Soup, Carrot Ginger Soup, or Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup for a warm and comforting meal on cooler fall evenings.
• Add some fresh cooked bread such as these homemade Dinner Rolls or Sweet Potato Cornbread.

Expert Tips and FAQs

• Make the salad your own! Change up the ingredients and use other fall produce such as figs, roasted sweet potatoes or butternut squash, and add on some crunchy toppings such as pecans, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts. You can even swap the feta cheese for blue cheese!
• Crisp and tart apples such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples work best for making salads!
• If making ahead of time, toss the apples and pears in some lemon juice to keep them from browning or wait until the last minute to chop them up.

More Amazing Salads to Try

If you love it, you will also love this Cornbread Salad, Jerk Shrimp Cobb Salad, Creole Shrimp Egg Salad, Shrimp Caesar Salad or this Cucumber and Onion Salad.

Grandbaby Cake’s Best Fall Recipes

Autumn-inspired recipes are intended to be warm and comforting. From noodle soups to slow-roasted chickens, the Fall season has something to offer everyone. I love pairing this simple salad with a creamy soup, rich chili or a tender, juicy cut of meat.

Try creating your own unique combo using one of my favorite Fall recipes:

• Chicken Chili With Black Eyed Peas
• Carrot Ginger Soup
• Brown Sugar Mississippi Pot Roast
• Potato Soup With Crunchy Kale

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!

This recipe was originally published in September 2020. It has been republished in October 2022 with updated content.