Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Dijon Dressing

Name: Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Dijon Dressing
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil; ¼ cup lemon juice; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup; 1 tablespoon minced shallot; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 large head romaine lettuce (chopped); ½ cup roasted and salted cashews; ¼ cup dried cranberries; 1 apple (peeled, cored and sliced); 1 pear (peeled, cored, and sliced)

Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Grain-Free, Soy-free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 1

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Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Dijon Dressing- fresh apples and pears served on a bed of crisp lettuce with salted cashews, tart cranberries and a lemon dijon dressing that will keep everyone coming back for more!

Between the pumpkin cake, pumpkin pie and pumpkin pancakes, I think it’s high time we take a break to appreciate some seasonal fresh produce. Don’t worry, if you’re not a salad person I’ve got plenty more baked goods coming up for you soon. But for now, let’s take a minute to appreciate something green. :)

While salads might sound boring to some, I promise you this combination is anything but. Fresh apples and pears are served on a bed of crisp lettuce with salted cashews and tart cranberries, then tossed in a an irresistible lemon dijon dressing. It’s super refreshing and flavorful enough to shine along any side item on your holiday table!

Winter Fruit Salad Ingredients

Romaine or Little Gem Lettuce– There’s no strict rule for the type of greens you can use for this salad but my favorite is fresh romaine or little gem lettuce. That said, baby spinach or mixed greens would also work well here.
Sliced Apples and Pears- Whether you prefer to thinly slice the fruit (as shown in the photos) or dice them into cubes is totally up to you, as is the variety you choose. I tend to go for honeycrisp apples and bartlett pears but feel free to choose any kind you like.
Roasted and Salted Cashews– Another flexible ingredient! If someone has a cashew allergy, roasted and salted almonds or pistachios would be delicious.
Dried Cranberries- Dried cranberries are ideal for this salad because they’re tart but still sweet enough that they won’t leave you with a pucker face. Raisins or dates would also work but I don’t think the flavor would be as good compared to the cranberries.

Lemon Dijon Dressing Ingredients

Fresh Lemon Juice- Fresh lemon juice is key to making a dressing that really shines. I don’t recommend skipping or substituting here.
Pure Maple Syrup- Just a little bit of natural sugar helps balance out the sour in the dressing. Honey will also work if you don’t have maple syrup.
Dijon Mustard- The savory tang of dijon mustard pairs so well with the sweet and sour of the lemon and maple syrup. The dijon flavor is much better than regular yellow mustard so I don’t advise substituting yellow mustard here.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil– Providing healthy fats and a nice fruity flavor, olive oil helps round out the dressing and also helps your body properly absorb the nutrients in the salad.
Minced Shallot- This obviously requires the most effort in the dressing but it’s definitely worth it to kick it up the flavor a few notches!

All in all, this salad takes less than 20 minutes whip up and is perfect for any occasion. If you’re looking for a quick side item that’s easy to throw together, this salad is sure to fit the bill. I hope you enjoy it!

Looking for more holiday side items?

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