November 7, 2017

Harvest Autumn Salad

Name: Harvest Autumn Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 7 ounces salad greens; 1 sweet potato, cubed and roasted; 1 apple sliced diced; 1/4 cup dried cranberries; 2 tablespoons goat cheese; 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette

This harvest autumn salad packs so much flavor with roasted veggies, crisp apples and more that make it a hearty meal or a delicious side dish.

It’s fall but here in Dallas, it’s still pretty hot so I’m still enjoying salads. I plan to keep this salad in rotation as it gets cooler. I know sweater weather generally brings to mind comfort foods, I have been getting into Fall salads to balance out all the comfort food eating.

A friend put me on to this sweet potato and kale blend. I’ve only found it in Target, in the frozen vegetable section. The way my life is set-up, convenience is the key because the bag goes in the microwave for 5 minutes.

However, if you can’t find this blend then you can cube a roast a sweet potato and sauté a couple handfuls of spinach in a little olive oil. The full list of ingredients and instructions will be listed below. But this is a salad so let’s not make it too complicated.

What you need for the best Autumn salads

salad greens – I use fresh baby spinach but you can use spring mix, arugula salad, kale, or any of your favorite leafy greens. Even Brussels sprouts would make a good base for this salad.

sweet potato – sweet potato gives this salad the flavors of fall. Some other great options are butternut squash, roasted carrots, or pumpkin.

Apples – apples just scream autumn right?! I used Granny Smith apples to balance out the sweetness. The crisp tart flavor brings just the right amount of acid. Any variety of apples would be good here. Try gala, honey crisps, or Fuji.

goat cheese – The creaminess of goat cheese adds texture and richness to this salad. If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, gorgonzola or feta cheese goes well with these flavors too.

Proteins – This salad is filling as is, but you can make it even more of a meal by adding a protein. I topped my salad with grilled shrimp.

How to make this easy fall salad

I mixed the sweet potatoes and kale blend with a bag of fresh baby spinach and I added a diced granny smith apple, and topped the salad with Craisins and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette and enjoy. If you’re vegan you can stop right there.

If you are pescatarian add grilled shrimp. If you don’t have any meat restrictions try adding grilled chicken breast or crumbled bacon. Don’t forget to add in that creamy goat cheese. It just sets the salad off.

This salad is so tasty and can make for a healthy main course for lunch or dinner. It would be a nice accompaniment to a bowl of soup or served as a side dish with a sandwich to expand on the meal.

Toppings for this delicious Harvest autumn salad

Seeds – candied pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, candied walnuts, poppy seeds.
Grains – if you want to make this salad even more hearty and filling add farro, nutty quinoa, wild rice,
Fruits – Instead of apples or in addition to add pears
Dressing – mix maple syrup and lemon juice for a simple dressing
Onions – diced red onions for a crunch and to add more acid