Autumn Cranberry Apple-Pear Salad

Fall is officially here and the plethora of autumn themed recipes and drinks (featuring pumpkins) hitting my feeds is staggering…I’m talking to you, Starbucks PSL! I’m sidestepping those to share a great recipe featuring those other autumnal fruits, apples and pears.  I love living in the Pacific Northwest where seasonal fruits are abundant, we have apple trees everywhere!   Around this time of year they are baked,  but since I don’t bake, I’m adding them to a fabulous fall flavored salad!

Sweet red pears and tart Granny Smith apples paired with salty feta cheese and dried cranberries are the perfect combination! I’m a big fan of combining different types of flavors and textures.  There’s a little crunch with the almonds and an added sweet end-of-summer bonus, strawberries!

You can serve this salad as a side dish, but it could easily become a light dinner or lunch.  Top it with a protein like chicken strips or cooked shrimp, or my family’s favorite, crumbled bacon. To finish off the salad, drizzle with your favorite vinaigrette for a great blend of sweet and tangy flavors; I love Trader Joe’s Champagne Pear Vinaigrette.  It brings out the flavor of the pears.

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Autumn Cranberry Apple-Pear Salad

Featuring apples and red pears, this salad is autumn ready! Beef it up as a main dish by adding chicken strips or cooked shrimp

Course Side Dish

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• 5 ounces mixed greens
• 1 red Anjou pear thinly sliced
• 1 Granny Smith apple thinly sliced
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced an end of summer bonus; omit this once out of season
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup sugared almonds I used sea salt and apple vinegar flavored
• vinaigrette dressing I used Champagne Pear Vinaigrette from Trader Joe's

Instructions

1. Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl. Serve the vinaigrette alongside the salad to keep the ingredients from becoming soggy.

Need another fabulous salad recipe? My Arugula Citrus Salad is another great option to try, citrus fruits are easy to find all year round and are a great way to get your vitamin C in colder months.