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Mixed green salad garnished with goat cheese, candied pecans, pears, and dried cranberries in a large, white bowl on a blue table surrounded by small bowls of garnish, diced pears, salad dressing, and salad servers.
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4.63 — Votes 8 votes

Winter Salad with Pears and Candied Pecans

Loaded with pears, candied pecans, goat cheese, and dried cranberries, this salad is the most delicious addition to your next festive spread.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 Servings
Author: Cassy Joy Garcia

Ingredients

For the Candied Pecans

  • 1 pound pecan halves
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne

For the Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
  • Juice of 1 lemon

For the Salad

  • 5 ounces mixed greens
  • 2 green pears cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 cup candied pecans
  • ½ cup goat cheese crumbles
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries

Instructions

For the Candied Pecans

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (if desired).
  • Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, cayenne, egg white, vanilla extract, and water to a bowl and stir until combined.
  • Add the pecans to the bowl with the brown sugar mixture and stir until all of the pecans are fully coated.
  • Transfer the pecans to a sheet pan, spread them out, and bake them at 350°F for 20 minutes.
  • Once the pecans are out of the oven, let them cool completely (this is important!) so that they'll harden.

For the Dressing

  • Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a mason jar and shake until fully combined.

For the Salad

  • Add the salad greens to a large bowl, then top with the chopped pears, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and candied pecans.
  • Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Ingredient Modifications and Variations:
  • Make it dairy-free - this one's easy! Simply omit the goat cheese to make your salad dairy-free.
  • Use a different fruit - swap the pears for chopped apples or pomegranate ariels.
  • Use a different nut - candy walnuts or cashews instead of pecans (you’ll still use this recipe, just swap the pecans!).
  • Use a store-bought dressing - feel free to swap the homemade dressing for store-bought if you’re short on time.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg