This Maple Pecan Salad with maple vinaigrette, sweet maple bourbon pecans, and fresh seasonal veggies is a deliciously crunchy chopped salad!
For a crisp fall or winter salad, try this sweet maple bourbon chopped salad with fresh, crunchy vegetables, homemade maple salad dressing, topped with pepitas, cranberries, goat cheese, and flavorful Maple Bourbon Pecans that are addictive! It is a wonderful salad to serve during the holidays or at family gatherings since the maple bourbon salad ingredients are in season. However, while this is a perfect salad for the fall and winter months, it is great any time of the year!
This maple pecan salad can be served as a main course, appetizer, or side dish. You can easily double, triple, or quadruple the recipe to serve for a big family dinner or party. For a complete meal, this salad is great served with soup and bread or as a side salad with pasta. This is a filling vegetarian salad that is packed with protein. However, for a nice, fancy dinner salad, you can add some extra protein such as chicken, tofu, or shrimp.
I hope you enjoy the Maple Bourbon Pecan Crunch Salad!
Maple Pecan Crunch Salad Ingredients
The maple pecan crunch salad recipe ingredients include nutritious, crunchy veggies and a flavorful maple balsamic vinaigrette. The salad ingredients can easily be changed up. My Maple Bourbon Pecan Chopped Salad ingredients included fresh seasonal fall and winter cruciferous vegetables that are readily available year-round.
- Maple Bourbon Pecans – These maple bourbon pecans are flavorful and super easy to make. However, you can also use plain pecans.
- chopped salad – a mix of chopped cruciferous vegetables, including green cabbage, broccoli stalk, brussels sprouts, kale, and leafy greens like radicchio.
- dried cranberries – adds a touch of tangy sweetness.
- pepitas – For extra flavor and crunch, try these Chili Lime Pepitas.
- goat cheese – crumbled.
Optional: For additional plant-based protein, try this Maple Glazed Tofu. If you omit the goat cheese, it will be a vegan salad.
Maple Vinaigrette Ingredients
The sweet maple vinaigrette salad dressing ingredients can be adjusted to taste. It is a simple vinaigrette, but flavorful and delicious!
- maple syrup
- balsamic vinegar
- extra virgin olive oil
- minced garlic
- kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper
How to Make a Maple Bourbon Pecan Chopped Salad
To make this Maple Bourbon Pecan Chopped Salad, first, make the Maple Bourbon Pecans. You can also use plain chopped pecans as a substitute, but the maple pecans are the best! I make the maple pecans and dressing in advance, then store them in an airtight container so they are ready whenever I want to add them to a recipe.
Next, wash and chop all of your cruciferous veggies, or use store-bought pre-chopped vegetables, then add them to a big salad bowl. Next, make the maple salad dressing or make it in advance. (see instructions below)
Pour the maple dressing over the veggies, then sprinkle with pecans, pepitas, cranberries, and goat cheese. Toss or stir to combine, then season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve fresh, and enjoy!
Maple Salad Dressing
To make the maple salad dressing, add the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to a small bowl, then whisk until the salt is dissolved. Next, whisk in the olive oil until well blended. You can also add all of the ingredients to a mason jar and shake well to combine, or add to a food processor and pulse to combine.
Note: This recipe will yield at least 2 servings. You can prepare the maple balsamic salad dressing in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Shake well before pouring it over the salad. If you like lots of salad dressing or want to have extra for another salad, make a double batch.
Maple Pecan Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped vegetables (about 8 - 10 ounces of chopped cruciferous vegetables, including green cabbage, broccoli stalk, brussels sprouts, kale, and leafy greens like radicchio.)
- ⅓ cup Maple Bourbon Pecans (or plain pecan halves or chopped pecans)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup goat cheese crumbled
- 2 - 3 tablespoons pepitas (For extra flavor and crunch, try these Chili Lime Pepitas.)
Maple Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup olive oil (Use ⅓ cup for a richer vinaigrette.)
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt (add more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Make the Maple Bourbon Pecans in advance. You can also use plain chopped pecans or pecan halves as a substitute, but the maple pecans are the best!
- Next, wash and chop all of your cruciferous veggies, or use store-bought pre-chopped vegetables, then add them to a big salad bowl. Next, make the maple salad dressing, see instructions below.
- Pour the maple dressing over the veggies, then sprinkle with pecans, pepitas, cranberries, and goat cheese. Toss or stir to combine, then season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve fresh, and enjoy!
Maple Salad Dressing
- Add the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to a small bowl, then whisk until the salt is dissolved. Whisk in the olive oil until well blended and emulsified. You can also add all of the ingredients to a mason jar and shake well to combine, or add to a food processor and pulse to combine.
Notes
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