Fall Salad with Maple-Balsamic Dressing

Prep time: 20 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

This fall salad with maple-balsamic dressing recipe features a maple syrup and balsamic vinaigrette for the fall salad with pecans, spinach, and apples.

Ingredients

1 (10 ounce) package baby spinach leaves
1 1/4 cups diced apple
1 1/4 cups diced sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1 Combine spinach, apple, Cheddar cheese, cranberries, and pecans in a large salad bowl; toss well.
2 Combine balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and mustard in a blender; blend on medium speed until well mixed. With blender running; pour in olive oil in a steady stream. Blend until dressing is smooth and emulsified (where oil and vinegar are no longer separated). Season with salt and black pepper; blend to incorporate. Drizzle over salad; serve immediately.