Harvest Chopped Salad

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Celebrate fall in every bite with this Harvest Chopped Salad! Crisp, juicy apples bring a refreshing crunch, toasted walnuts add a salty bite, tart cranberries offer a pop of tang, and savory cheddar cheese ties it all together for the perfect seasonal salad.

With the holiday season in full swing everyone is busy, busy, busy!   This is the time of year where I’m baking cookies every night, running to the mall to do a little shopping, and decorating the house.   While it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it often becomes the most stressful time of the year.

That’s why I like to take the week before Thanksgiving and give thanks for all the wonderful things in my life.  I am thankful for my amazing husband and all the sweet things he does for me.  I don’t know what I would do without him!  I am thankful for my son who is the light of my life.

I’m thankful that I have a warm house to live in.   I’m thankful that my family only lives 2 hours away so I get to visit with them during the holidays.   There are so many things I’m thankful for and this is the time of year to reflect on that.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because the food is always so amazing!  For a main dish it doesn’t get much better than Easy Brined Turkey.  One of my favorite fall side dishes is Butternut Squash Mashed Potatoes.  I live for the stuffing at Thanksgiving and easy Vegetarian Stuffing is one of my favorites.   Obviously you’ve got to have Pumpkin Pie for dessert.

The one thing that I think is often missing from holiday meals is a green salad.  We normally have several vegetable side dishes but sometimes I think it would be nice to have a fresh green salad to start of the meal.   That’s why this Thanksgiving I’m bringing a delicious Harvest Chopped Salad to dinner.

What is a chopped salad?

A chopped salad is a type of salad where all the ingredients are cut into small, uniform pieces before being tossed together.  Because everything is finely chopped, each bite has a balanced mix of flavors and textures.

Making the Harvest Chopped Salad is super easy.  It’s basically a large bowl of greens topped with bacon, apples, walnuts, cheese, cranberries and red onions.   Right before it’s served I like to toss it with an easy homemade vinaigrette.   Not only is it tasty but it looks beautiful on a holiday table.

Can I add other toppings?

Yes!   Instead of apples add pears.  Instead of walnuts add pecans.  Toss in some smoked cheddar cheese, roasted beets, shredded Brussels Sprouts, or pumpkin seeds.  The possibilities are endless!

When I think of a fresh green salad with fruits and nuts on top I like to pair it with a crisp white wine.  My favorite white wine to serve with a first course is Pinot Grigio.  It’s bright citrus notes pair wonderfully with a salad.

This salad is totally delicious.  The sweet apples with the tart cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and savory cheddar cheese make for a delightful pairing.

Want to turn this into an entree salad?   Serve it with grilled chicken or roasted turkey on top.  You can even add some shrimp!

Harvest Chopped Salad

Take your holiday salad to another level with crunchy apples, salty walnuts, tart cranberries, and savory sweet cheddar cheese.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes minutes

Author: Hezzi-D

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 4 c. Romaine lettuce chopped
• 4 c. mixed greens chopped
• 8 strips bacon
• 1 apple cored and chopped
• 1/3 c. walnuts chopped
• 1/3 c. dried cranberries
• 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
• 1/2 c. sweet cheddar cheese shredded

For the balsamic vinaigrette:

• 1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/3 c. olive oil
• salt and fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

• Place the romaine lettuce and mixed greens in a large salad bowl. Toss to combine.
• Place the bacon in a skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Remove from skillet and place on a paper towel lined plate. Cool and then chop.
• Layer the other toppings across the salad, starting at one end with the apples, then walnuts, then cranberries, then onions, then bacon, and finally the sweet cheddar cheese ending on the other side of the salad.
• To make the vinaigrette combine the vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and garlic in a small bowl. Add the olive oil a bit at a time, whisking constantly until combined.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• When ready to serve drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over top of the salad and serve immediately.

Notes

A Hezzi-D Original Recipe