Autumn Apple & Feta Salad with Cinnamon Maple Vinaigrette

Awwwwe, the crisp feel of Autumn is such a delight. Sorry to those who are still trying to hold on to Summer. Fall is here, and it’s time for some seasonal eats. This Autumn Apple & Feta Salad with Cinnamon Maple Vinaigrette is healthy, crisp, and full of the Fall flavor. It’s also delicious with blue cheese.

If you like this recipe, you’ll love Spinach Salad with Easy Pesto Dressing.

Salad Ingredients

Greens

Any greens go great in this salad. Here are a few options:

• Kale
• Spinach
• Romaine
• Arugula
• Or a Mix of All

Apples

Always a healthy choice, apples are chalked full of vitamins and nutrients. They are loaded with antioxidants and fiber! Fiber helps us feel fuller longer, and aids in digestion.

Use any type of apple you like in this salad recipe. Granny Smiths are the most tart. Fuji apples are the sweetest. Jonagold and Braeburn are in the middle of tart and sweet.

To keep them from turning brown, whisk up your dressing before cutting the apple. Place diced apple directly in dressing to coat.

When ready to serve the salad, use a spoon to dig out the apple from the dressing. Then drizzle dressing over salad.

If you like apples, you’ll love my Apple Turkey Wrap with Cream Cheese.

Feta or Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is soft cheese with a sharp salty taste. Feta is similar, without the sharpness, plus a bit briny. Both go well with apples and the rest of the fixin’s in this salad. Blue and Feta are also both high in sodium. Use sparingly if you are on sodium restriction.

Love recipes with feta cheese? Try my Artichoke Chicken.

Carrots

Chop them or shred them, just get them in there. This is a beautifully colorful salad, and the carrots help bring the beta-carotene and vibrant orange color.

Carrots also bring the vitamins. They are rich in Vitamins A, K, and several B vitamins. This array of vitamins help with bone & blood health, vision, energy.

Source- Carrots 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits by Adda Bjarnadottir on Healthline.com

Pomegranate Arils

These little guys are such a treat. They are small seeds that have a little bit of pomegranate juice inside. They pop in your mouth and are so tasty… not to mention good for you.

According to 10 Health Benefits of Pomegranates, by Lauran Panoff at Healthline.com: Pomegranates are low in calories and fat, while high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Here are a few more reasons to eat pomegranates:

• Rich in Antioxidants
• Keeps Inflammation at bay
• Protects Brain Health
• Aids in Digestion

Looking for a cocktail recipe with pomegranate arils and juice? I got you. Make this a mocktail, or add in a little booze: Pomegranate Gin & Ginger Fizz.

Dried Cranberries

Dried cranberries add the chew and the tart. Look for lower added sugar dried cranberries. You can sub these for raisins or other dried fruit, like apricots.

Pecans & Pumpkin Seeds

Here comes the crunch. Pecans and pumpkin seeds not only bring the crunch, but also more nutrients. Nuts and seeds are a good source of: protein, healthy fats, magnesium, antioxidants, and potassium.

Cinnamon Maple Dressing

This dressing is warm from the cinnamon, sweet from maple syrup, and tangy from vinegar. You most likely have all the ingredients in your pantry too. Yay! Here’s what you’ll need for the dressing:

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Maple Syrup
• Olive Oil
• Dijon Mustard
• Cinnamon
• Salt & Pepper

Whisk up the dressing in a medium size bowl first. Next, chop the apple and put in the dressing as you are chopping. This will prevent oxidization of the apple.

Salads don’t have to be boring. If you like this salad recipe, you’ll love my post on 5 Healthy Salad Dressings.

What to Serve it With?

This salad is excellent paired with Steak, Chicken, or Fish dishes. It goes great with Glazed & Grilled Salmon.

It’s also lovely as the main dish. Just add in some protein. Any of these source would be delicious with this Autumn Apple & Feta Salad:

• Chicken: Grilled or Rotisserie
• Salmon or Shrimp
• Steak
• Garbanzo Beans
• Quinoa

If you like this recipe, you’ll love my Autumn Quinoa Salad.

Leftovers

Salad that is dressed, will be soggy the next day unless using a sturdier green, like kale. Either only dress individual portions of salad, or use kale, if wanting to score some leftovers.

The Maple Cinnamon Dressing is a large batch. There is more than enough for another salad later in the week. It doesn’t take long to throw these ingredients in a bowl. Make a fresh salad with the leftovers.

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