Recipe:

Apple, Pear and Candied Pecan Salad

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Serves 6 to 8

Thank you to Lindsey from Edgewater, NJ, for this full-flavored salad recipe. Sweet and tart fruit, bitter greens, tangy cheese and luscious candied pecans all come together in perfect harmony. We made it natural by using organic ingredients whenever possible and raw cane sugar. Lindsey received the ultimate compliment for her recipe: her mom loves it and serves it at all of their family gatherings in the fall.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons evaporated cane sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg white
1 1/2 cups raw pecan halves
2 Bosc or other firm pears
1 red apple such as Fuji or Pink Lady, peeled if desired and thinly sliced
1 green apple such as Granny Smith or Pippin, peeled if desired and thinly sliced
4 cups field greens or any baby greens
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, more or less to taste
2 tablespoons pear or raspberry vinegar, more or less to taste
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Ingredient option: You may substitute store-bought candied pecans for a simpler preparation.

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Spoon sugar and cinnamon into a large bowl or plastic bag. Mix well and set aside. Place egg white in a separate bowl, whisk until frothy, and add pecans. Toss to coat completely. Add pecans to cinnamon-sugar and toss well to coat all pecans. Spread them on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow them to cool, breaking them up with a spatula.

Meanwhile, toss pears, apples, greens, onion slices and cheese in a large serving bowl. Add pecans when cooled.

In a smaller bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad, toss to combine and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Per serving (6 oz/172g-wt.): 320 calories (240 from fat), 27g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 7g protein, 18g total carbohydrate (5g dietary fiber, 11g sugar), 15mg cholesterol, 250mg sodium

Tags: Entertaining, American, Gluten Free, Vegetarian, High Fiber, Wheat Free

Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember — we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information. See our Terms of Service.