Apple, Brie and Pecan Salad

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Apple, Brie, and Pecan Salad is the perfect mix of fall flavors and is tossed in homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette.

apple, brie and pecan salad in a white bowl

Throughout the fall and winter, you’ll likely find a variation of this salad on our table a few nights a week and anytime we host a holiday meal. Apple Cider Vinaigrette gives the salad an unmistakeable fall flavor and the combination of pecans and apples just feels so seasonal. It also gets great balance of crunch from the apples and pecans balanced with richness of brie cheese.

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pouring vinaigrette over salad

While I’ve given you a template below for this tried-and-true fall salad, there are so many other ways to mix things up. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

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Variations on Apple, Brie and Pecan Salad

  • Greens – Sturdy greens work best, so baby kale is a great option. Baby Spinach, Arugula, or finely chopped Curly Leaf Kale are all great and will hold up under the weight of the other ingredients. If you use mixed salad greens that are a bit more tender, be sure to wait to toss the salad until right before serving.
  • Cheese – Great with cubed brie, these flavors also go well with crumbled goat cheese, blue cheese, feta, or cubed Swiss.
  • Nuts – Both pecans and walnuts fit in well here. For something extra special, try it with Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
  • Fresh Fruit – Both apples and pears work well to give the salad fall flavor and natural sweetness.
  • Dried Fruit – It’s hard to beat the balance of sweet and tart from dried cranberries, but the salad works well even without dried fruit. If you want to use something different, raisins, chopped dried apricots, or dried cherries are also great.
  • Add Protein – Turn this fresh salad into a full meal by adding cooked chicken, roasted turkey (great use of holiday leftovers!), or chopped deli meat (like ham or turkey).
brie cubes and pecans on a white table
overhead image of apple, brie and pecan salad in a white bowl

More Colorful Salad Recipes

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apple brie and pecan salad in a white bowl
4.60 from 5 votes

Apple, Brie and Pecan Salad

This salad is the perfect mix of fall flavors – tart from apples, crunch from toasted pecans, and a creamy rich flavor from brie.
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • sheet pan

Ingredients 

Apple Cider Vinaigrette:

  • 1 teaspoon Diced Shallot
  • 3 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Honey
  • 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or use your favorite oil)
  • Pinch of Salt and Pepper

Salad:

  • 1/2 cup Pecan halves (see note)
  • 8 ounces Baby Kale (sub baby spinach)
  • 4 ounces Brie Cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
  • 1 Apples, chopped (I like a crisp, slightly tart variety like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 275°F / 135°C.
  • Spread pecans out on a sheet pan and toast for 15 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through roasting.
  • While pecans roast, make vinaigrette by combining shallot, vinegar, mustard, and honey in a small bowl. Add olive oil while whisking until the vinaigrette is smooth. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper. (Note: Alternatively, for a very smooth vinaigrette, you can combine all vinaigrette ingredients and blend them with an immersion blender. This is my preferred method.)
  • Just before serving, combine roasted pecans, baby kale, brie, cranberries, and apples in a large salad bowl. Add vinaigrette until salad is dressed to your liking. Toss well.

Notes

Pecans – For a little something extra, try using Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans in the salad instead of regular roasted pecans.

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 163mg | Potassium: 284mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 3904IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
Cost: $8.00
Calories: 281
Keyword: apple recipe, apple salad, easy recipe ideas, Entree Salad, fall, fall recipe, fall salad
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About Jess Smith

Jess is the recipe creator and photographer at InquiringChef.com. She spent nearly a decade as the Chief Recipe Developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Her colorful, healthyish recipes have been featured in popular online publications including Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost.

4.60 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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