🎉 Introduction
Fall brings with it a bounty of fresh produce and cozy flavors, and nothing captures the season better than an Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad. This salad combines crisp Honeycrisp apples, tangy feta, crunchy pecans, dried cranberries, and vibrant pomegranate seeds over a bed of mixed greens. Drizzled with a homemade apple cider Dijon vinaigrette sweetened with honey, every bite is bursting with sweet, savory, and tart flavors.
It’s a salad that looks stunning on the table, tastes refreshing, and is perfect as a starter, side dish, or even a light main course. Balanced with textures—creamy feta, crunchy nuts, crisp apples—and flavors—sweet, tangy, nutty, and savory—it’s a dish that celebrates the harvest season in every way.
Whether you’re preparing it for a holiday gathering, a cozy dinner party, or a weeknight meal, this salad is sure to impress.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Large salad bowl
- Small mixing bowl (for dressing)
- Whisk
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Salad tongs
🛒 Ingredients
For the salad:
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
- ⅓ cup pecans (toasted for extra flavor)
- 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
For the dressing:
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- Salt and pepper, to taste
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
- Wash and dry greens.
- Thinly slice the Honeycrisp apple and red onion.
- Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant.
Step 2: Make Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
Step 3: Assemble Salad Base
- In a large salad bowl, add mixed greens as the base.
- Top with apple slices, red onion, cranberries, pomegranate seeds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and fresh thyme.
Step 4: Add Feta Cheese
- Sprinkle crumbled feta evenly over the salad.
Step 5: Toss with Dressing
- Pour dressing over salad just before serving.
- Toss gently to combine, ensuring ingredients are evenly coated.
Step 6: Serve
- Serve immediately as a side or light main dish.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 4–6 portions
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes (to toast pecans)
- Total time: 20 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store undressed salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Dressing: Keep separately in a jar for up to 1 week.
- Tip: Add apples just before serving to prevent browning.
🥄 Variations
- Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken, salmon, or chickpeas.
- Cheese Swap: Replace feta with goat cheese or blue cheese.
- Nut-Free Option: Use sunflower seeds instead of pecans.
- Extra Sweetness: Add sliced pears or roasted butternut squash.
- Holiday Twist: Top with candied pecans and dried cherries.
❓ 10 FAQs
- Can I use a different apple variety?
- Yes, Gala, Fuji, or Pink Lady apples also work well.
- How do I keep apples from browning?
- Toss slices with lemon juice before adding to salad.
- Can I make this salad ahead?
- Yes, prep ingredients in advance, but keep apples and dressing separate until serving.
- Is this salad vegetarian?
- Yes, it’s vegetarian-friendly.
- Can I make it vegan?
- Swap feta for vegan cheese and honey for maple syrup.
- What nuts work best besides pecans?
- Walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts are great alternatives.
- Can I use store-bought dressing?
- Yes, but homemade gives the best fresh flavor.
- How do I make this more filling?
- Add grains like quinoa or farro for a hearty touch.
- Is this salad good for holidays?
- Absolutely! It’s festive, colorful, and crowd-pleasing.
- What can I pair this with?
- Roasted chicken, turkey, pork tenderloin, or grilled fish.
🏁 Conclusion
This Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad is a vibrant, refreshing way to enjoy the flavors of fall. With crisp apples, sweet cranberries, tangy feta, and a zesty apple cider honey dressing, it’s both simple to prepare and packed with flavor.
Perfect as a holiday side dish, a dinner party starter, or a wholesome weeknight meal, this salad showcases the season’s best ingredients in every bite.
Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad | Crisp, Sweet & Savory
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash and dry greens.
- Thinly slice the Honeycrisp apple and red onion.
- Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant.
- In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
- In a large salad bowl, add mixed greens as the base.
- Top with apple slices, red onion, cranberries, pomegranate seeds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, and fresh thyme.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta evenly over the salad.
- Pour dressing over salad just before serving.
- Toss gently to combine, ensuring ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve immediately as a side or light main dish.
Notes
This Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad is a vibrant, refreshing way to enjoy the flavors of fall. With crisp apples, sweet cranberries, tangy feta, and a zesty apple cider honey dressing, it’s both simple to prepare and packed with flavor. Perfect as a holiday side dish, a dinner party starter, or a wholesome weeknight meal, this salad showcases the season’s best ingredients in every bite.
