Each fall, I crave cozy stews and pumpkin desserts, but October in Florida is hardly sweater weather.
So, what’s a girl to do? Create a salad that combines my favorite autumn flavors while keeping things cool.
Ingredients
For the Salad
6 cups arugula, romaine, escarole, or kale (or a combination), torn into bite-sized pieces
1 cup purple cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 cup candied pecans and pumpkin seeds (recipe below)
4 ounces bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
1-2 Honeycrisp apples, thinly sliced
1 avocado, cubed
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
For the Pecans and Pumpkin Seeds
1 cup unsalted pecan halves
1/2 cup unsalted pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves (optional)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 egg white, whisked
Maple-Miso Apple Vinaigrette
Yield about 1 cup
1/2 cup avocado oil (or other neutral oil)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon white miso paste
1 garlic clove, grated
1 shallot, finely minced
2 teaspoons fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 225°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Toss pecans and pumpkin seeds with egg white, add the sugar mixture, and spread on the baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cool and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Cook the Bacon: In a sauté pan over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Make the Vinaigrette: Combine all vinaigrette ingredients except the oil in a medium bowl. Slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking constantly, or place all ingredients in a jar, close the lid, and shake well. Store extra dressing in the refrigerator.
Assemble the Salad: Arrange the greens in a large bowl and top with sliced apples, avocado, candied nuts, bacon, and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with the vinaigrette, toss and serve.
Note: Use store-bought candied pecans and regular pumpkin seeds for a quicker version. Y
