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Easy Cranberry Walnut Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

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A quick and easy salad featuring crunchy toasted walnuts, chewy dried cranberries, creamy feta or goat cheese, and a sweet-tangy maple vinaigrette. Perfect for weeknights, holidays, or any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, romaine; about 170g)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (60g)
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted (60g)
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (50g)
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (80ml)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30ml)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (30ml)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (5ml)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the walnuts: Place walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Shake the pan every 30 seconds for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Immediately transfer to a plate to cool.
  2. Make the maple vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake vigorously for about 20 seconds until emulsified. Adjust sweetness or tang to taste.
  3. Prepare the greens and toppings: Wash and dry salad greens thoroughly. Tear large leaves into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice red onion into rings or half-moons about 1/8 inch thick. If desired, soak onion slices in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow flavor, then pat dry.
  4. Assemble the salad: Place greens in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle cooled walnuts, dried cranberries, crumbled cheese, and sliced red onion on top. Do not toss yet.
  5. Dress and toss: Re-emulsify the dressing if needed. Drizzle about two-thirds of the dressing over the salad. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated. Add more dressing if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t dress the salad until ready to serve; greens will wilt within 30 minutes. For meal prep, keep dressing separate. For a crowd, double the dressing recipe. Toasting walnuts is non-negotiable for best flavor. Dry greens thoroughly to ensure dressing sticks.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry walnut salad, maple vinaigrette, easy salad recipe, holiday salad, quick salad

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/easy-cranberry-walnut-salad-with-maple-vinaigrette/