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Healthy, attainable, feel-good recipes—those are my favorite. Take this simple green salad, which has been my go-to holiday salad for five years now.
I’ve brought it to too many Friendsgivings to count, and my family has enjoyed it at Thanksgiving as well. It’s beautiful, easy to make, and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
This salad features fresh spring greens, tart Granny Smith apple, sweet dried cranberries and creamy goat cheese, tossed in a simple apple cider vinaigrette (recipe included).
I usually try to outdo myself when it comes to salads, but I kept this one simple. It’s the perfect side salad for all of your cool-weather meals.
Make it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any meal in between!
Green Salad Serving Suggestions
This is my favorite green salad to serve with heavier holiday/comfort foods. Consider pairing this salad with lasagna, baked ziti and stuffed acorn squash.
Serve this salad with a creamy soup to round out a light meal. It would go especially well with my creamy pumpkin soup, best butternut soup, and creamy roasted cauliflower soup.
Green Salad Tips
Spring greens wilt quickly once they’ve been tossed with dressing. If you are preparing this salad in advance, keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve. For best results, chop the apple just before tossing everything together, since apples brown when they are exposed to air.
For a salad with greater longevity, swap a big bunch of chopped kale (thick ribs removed) for the spring greens. Kale is a more hardy green that can withstand a long soak in dressing—in fact, it gets better as it marinates. At this rate, you could also add the apples—the vinegar will help keep them fresh.
Watch How to Make This Green Salad
Please let me know how this salad turns out for you in the comments! I’m always so happy to hear from you.
Looking for more healthy yet holiday-worthy salads? Check these out:
- Honey Mustard Brussels Sprout Slaw
- Farro and Kale Salad with Goat Cheese
- Arugula and Wild Rice Salad with Zippy Lemon Dressing
- Autumn Kale Salad with Fennel, Honeycrisp and Goat Cheese
Favorite Green Salad with Apples, Cranberries and Pepitas
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- Author: Cookie and Kate
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 side salads 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: By hand
- Cuisine: American
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star
5 from 111 reviews
My favorite fresh salad featuring healthy greens, sliced apple, toasted pepitas, dried cranberries and crumbled goat cheese. Toss with my simple apple cider vinaigrette (recipe below) or use balsamic dressing in a pinch. Recipe yields 2 full-sized salads or 4 to 6 side salads.
Scale
Ingredients
Green salad
- 5 ounces (about 5 cups) spring greens salad blend
- 1 large or 2 small Granny Smith apple(s)
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) or chopped raw pecans
- 2 ounces chilled goat cheese, crumbled (about ⅓ cup)
Apple cider vinaigrette
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Toast the pepitas: In a medium-sized skillet, toast the pepitas over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they are turning golden on the edges and making little popping noises (if using pecans instead, warm them just until they are fragrant). Transfer the pepitas to a small bowl to cool.
- Make the dressing: In a cup or jar, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard and salt until well blended. Season to taste with pepper.
- Just before serving, chop the apple into thin, bite-sized pieces. Place your greens in a large serving bowl. Top with sliced apple, dried cranberries and toasted pepitas. Use a fork to crumble the goat cheese over the salad.
- Drizzle the salad with just enough dressing to lightly coat the leaves once tossed (you probably won’t need all of it). Gently toss to mix all of the ingredients and serve!
Notes
Make it vegan: Substitute maple syrup for the honey and omit the cheese.
Storage suggestions: Spring greens wilt quickly once they’ve been tossed with dressing, so store dressing separately from the greens. Apples oxidize quickly once they’re cut open, so I chop them just before serving the salad. For a salad with more longevity, swap chopped kale for the spring greens (like this). Bonus? The dressing will keep the chopped apples looking fresh.
▸ Nutrition Information
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #cookieandkate.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Suzanne Martinek
Absolutely delicious! The dressing was a perfect accompaniment to the salad. This is definitely a salad that I will make time and time again.
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Carlan McBride
I love this salad! It’s so so simple yet delicious and pairs well with most any cool weather meals. It’s easy to add to and play around with as well. A great staple. Thanks Kate!
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Kimberly
This salad is one of my new favourites! I’ve made it quite a few times over! All my kids love it! Thank you for sharing.
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Kate
You’re welcome, Kimberly! I appreciate your review.
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Lisle
Just ate this for dinner at my aunt’s home and it was absolutely amazing!! Healthy and full flavor with just the right about of sweet! Highly recommend!!
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Ruchi
Num..num!!!! My go to salad recipe when my sweet tooth kicks in. Toddler friendly as well.
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Kate
Thank you for your review, Ruchi! I appreciate it.
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Katie
I have made this countless times and it is fantastic every time! Friends ask for it when they come over!
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Kate
I’m delighted to hear that! Thank you for your review.
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gwendolyn hilton
Thank you for some of these recipes; I have made spring rolls before and have been unable to make the perfect peanut dipping sauce, therefore, can’t wait until I attempt to do this soon. Thanks.
I am looking forward for kidney-friendly recipes and the apple with cranberries, peppitas, appears to be what I have been wanting to try.
Thanks.
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Melissa
This salad is a slam dunk. It’s seriously delicious, and because it’s quick and easy to prepare, I will often do it for lunch on work days, combining it with either the “seriously good veggie soup” or creamy carrot soup (both from C&K). That’s my definition of a perfect weekday lunch!
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Kate
I’m happy you loved it, Melissa! Thank you for your review.
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Dani
This was so good, thank you!! What kind of protein would you add to make it more of a main dish?
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Kate
Hi! You could add some chickpeas or serve with a sandwich – like my Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
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Sabrina
So good! Made this for my dad’s 53rd birthday and was a hit overall. Though i did add chopped green onions to this. I am a huge onion fan :) Anyways, love the recipe!!
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Kate
That’s great, Sabrina!
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Jan
I made this salad and took it to friends place to contribute to supper for 5 of us. It was absolutely delicious! I used goat cheese rolled in dried cranberries instead of plain goat cheese plus the dried cranberries called for in the recipe. Next time I’ll use plane goat cheese but either way is yummy! I’ll definitely make it again!
Amy
Absolutely love this salad. I eat it at least once a week! It never gets old.
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Kate
I’m happy you love it!
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Keiko Seino
This salad was delicious. I have tried several different vinaigrette dressings recipes over the past few months but this one comes up on top! I will definitely be using this dressing regularly now. Delicious!!
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Vickie
I’m slowly working my way through your salad recipes and this is another winner! Sounded good as we are on the cusp of another season. I added some celery, used pecans, and maple syrup instead of honey. Flavors blend so well with the dressing!
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Kate
That’s a great idea! Thank you for sharing you enjoyed this salad, Vickie.
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Ale
Is it ok if I replace goat cheese with feta cheese?
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Kate
Sure, that’s a great alternative.
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Samara S
Hi! If we don’t like goat cheese, could we swap for feta? Would that still taste good?
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Kate
Feta is a great option, Samara! I hope you love it.
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Erin Bravo
I was thinking using feta as well. How did it turn out with this substitution??
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Deborah
Amazing! Made it in October as a main course, so we subbed out candied pecans for the pepitas, and added grilled chicken. So delicious, and the dressing is incredible. My new favorite salad.
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Kate
I love it! Thank you for sharing, Debroah.
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Linda
I love a good salad. This one was delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe. :)
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Robert (Victoria, British Columbia)
I have lost count of how many times I have made this salad. Always a home run with dinner guests!
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Kate
I love that! Thank you for sharing, Robert.
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Laci
Can you store the dressing at room temp in a jar or does it need to be refrigerated?
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Kate
Hi! I recommend refrigerating it.
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Chase
Made it for Thanksgiving and it was delish! I will definitely be making it again. Thank you!
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Kate
You’re welcome, Chase!
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Martha
Thank you for saving me. I’m British and I got invited to an American thanksgiving and I had to bring a fall salad and I didn’t know what one was! I made this, followed the recipe exactly, and it was DELICIOUS. This salad is perfect in my opinion! The perfect side to a thanksgiving meal. It is also easy to make, thanks to the clear instructions.
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Kate
I’m glad you all could enjoy this salad together, Martha! I appreciate your review.
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valerie willuweit
I added a little bit of fresh microplaned ginger to the dressing to round out that holiday flavor profile. Love this salad!
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Tina Saephan
Can I sub the mustard for anything else? I’m allergic.
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Kate
Hi Tina, you could omit altogether or try subbing some may for creaminess you will miss from the mustard.
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Ashley
Sounds great but my husband and I both have a strong dislike of apple cider vinegar. Do you have any recommendations of alternative dressings? Do you think poppyseed would pair well with this?
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Kate
Hi! That could work. Let me know what you think!
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Patti
I never have to modify your recipes. You are always spot on as far as my family is concerned. Thank you!
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Kate
Thank you, Patti! I’m delighted you trust my recipes.
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Tiffany
Can I make the dressing a day in advance?
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Kate
Sure. Let me know what you think!
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Melisende
Very good salad recipe.
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Rory
Had a BBQ today and got so many compliments on this salad! I see myself making this for many future occaisions!
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Shirley Harrison
Wonderful recipe! One change toasted pepitas with little maple syrup and cinnamon, all else the same, delicious!
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Kate
Thank you, Shirley! I appreciate your review.
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Barb
You can even cut the apples ahead of time and refrigerate them covered tightly, submerged in lemon-lime soda like 7-Up. They’re just as fresh as when just cut and not sour like when they’re treated with lemon juice. I’ve even kept them several days.
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Cynthia
This salad recipe is incredible! Served this as a side dish to some fresh, tuna fillets but easily could have eaten this as a main. Maybe I might ;)
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Cheryl
Another perfect recipe from YOU! Thank you so much; served it with air fried Salmon and it was the perfect dinner!!
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Melisende
Very good salad. Made it for 8 guests and it was popular.
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Ash
I can’t stop eating this salad. Simple but genius.
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Mary
This recipe was suggested as side for a large group meeting. It was a hit! Everything in Kate’s salad was perfect and eye appealing. The dressing is easy to make and better than a purchased bottle.
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Carol
Can I substitute candied pecans! I don’t have pepitas. Or pine nuts? Thanks
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Kate
You could try that. Let me know what you think, Carol! I appreciate your review.
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Marcia
3 large or 2 small Granny Smith apple(s)
I think you mean 2 large or 3 small?
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Kate
Hi Marcia, you can add more if you like more apples. I hope you enjoy it!
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Marcia
Sorry, I was just pointing out what I thought was a typo!
The salad is perfect!Reply
Kate
Hi Marcia, so glad you like the salad and I’m sorry for the confusion. I think I’ve figured out what was happening. The original recipe specifies 1 large or 2 small apples, which is correct/logical. However, if you use the double or triple option to multiply the quantities, the 2 small apples doesn’t get multiplied along with the large apple. This must be a glitch in the software and I honestly don’t know how to fix it—that tool is helpful but a little imperfect at times. I appreciate you bringing it to my attention and hope you’re having a great weekend!
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Alice
I made this tonight for company and, like all your salads that I’ve tried, it was wonderful. I couldn’t find pepitas so I used pecans. I’d like to try pepitas if I can find the, though.
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Lisa
can the chopped apples be mixed with a little dressing to prevent browning and transported for easier prepping when taking to a dinner party? Thank you!
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Kate
Man, is this good, and so easy to make!! I made this last night for a Christmas party pot-luck. I tossed the cut apple with a little lemon juice to keep it from browning and drained it before adding to the salad, and added some chopped romaine hearts to help support the spring greens which wilt more readily. I also substituted roasted pistachios for the pepitas. The dressing was perfect, and everyone loved it. I’m making it again for Christmas Eve.
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Kate
I hope it’s a hit, Kate! Thank you for taking the time to review.
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Kate
An update: BTW, this is my favorite salad dressing now too! It goes with everything, and I always have it on hand. Finding this dressing recipe was the final push to completely eliminating store bought dressing from my house! I suggest you post it as a stand alone recipe (like the balsamic vinaigrette) because everyone always asks me for the recipe :)
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Seattle Sun
Made this for my cooking club today to go with a simple chicken recipe. It was very good! I had an unused Trader Joe’s Cranberry Goat Cheese Log left over from the holidays, so I crumbled 4 oz and substituted this for the goat cheese and cranberries. I thought the dressing was a bit bland, but the cinnamon in the log added the perfect extra touch! Will definitely keep this recipe handy!
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Kate
That’s great to hear! Thank you for sharing how you made it.
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Silvia
Honestly the beat salad. We have had it so often ever since we discovered it, almost 2 years ago!
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Hollie Roberts
This is amazing! Try it will cherry goat cheese! They have it around Christmas time! Game Changer! My favorite salad by far! Thank you for a superb recipe!
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Emmy
Seriously my favourite salad to make. The only thing I change is I don’t add the cranberries and I only use a handful of the pepita seeds
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AW
This has been my go-to salad for literally years. I always bring it to family gatherings and potlucks and get rave reviews every time! Thank you for this simple yet delicious recipe!
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Kate
You’re welcome, AW! Thank you for your review.
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Jay
Delicious salad and very simple to make. he cranberries
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Kate
I’m glad you love it, Jay! Thank you for your review.
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Glacy
I searched for a green salad recipe and this comes among others. I am intrigued with the ingredients so I tried it for an event, I have to replace the goat cheese to feta cheese and still they loved it!
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Melisende
Always a good basic vinaigrette and salad recipe. I used a ripe pear instead of the apple, added some fresh pomegranate seeds and left off the goat cheese as some people in the family don’t like it and it’s just an added expensive ingredient which I don’t normally use in my kitchen.
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Erin Dove
Would roasted butternut squash make a good addition to this salad?
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Kate
That could be nice! Let me know what you think if you try it.
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Steph
Came out so great, and got so many compliments. Thank you for sharing!
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Kim Benson
Excellent salad. This was a real crowd pleaser at our Thanksgiving dinner.
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Kate
Great to hear, Kim! Thank you for your review.
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Ashley
Wow this was so good! Restaurant quality!! I didn’t have any pepitas so I used shelled pistachios but stuck to the recipe otherwise and we loved it!
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Kate
Thank you for sharing, Ashley! I appreciate your review.
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Terri Seravalli
Love your recipes! Love your book! My question–do you have a favorite brand of goat cheese. I haven’t found one at my supermarket that I love.
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Kate
I try to buy organic when I can. Whole Foods has a good option.
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Kim
I love this salad, and the dressing is my new favorite dressing! I added some chicken chunks and it was the perfect lunchtime meal.
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Nancy
I make this salad year round. The festive colors are perfect for a holiday table and the salad is light and goes well with heavy foods. It’s a great summer salad too. The colors also look pretty on July 4th. I never bring any home. Everyone loves it! And, it’s quick to prepare.
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Kate
I love to hear that! Thank you for sharing, Nancy.
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Alice
Absolutely delicious. Used a platter rather than a bowl for a very attractive presentation.
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Marie Egger
Made this for a baby shower. It was absolutely delicious, and everyone loved it. Thank you!
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Kate
You’re welcome, Marie! I appreciate your review.
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Rachel
Delicious! Question – do you roast the pecans too if using those instead? Its unclear.
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Kate
To enhance the flavor, sure!
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Steph
Awesome salad and so easy to put together! Thank you Kate for another awesome recipe!
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Nat
I made this for a Paddy’s Day get together and everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. Was so simple to put together too. Will be my go to salad from now on
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Kate
I love to hear that, Nat! Thank you for your review.
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Megg
I’m excited about this flavorful salad you’ve put together! Making it for ‘in-laws’ for Easter Dinner!
Blessings to you and your family on this celebration of Jesus’ ResurrectionReply
Kate
Thank you for your review, Megg!
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