Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries and Candied Pecans
Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries, and Candied Pecans are a refreshing and lovely autumnal salad that’s a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table!
The typical Thanksgiving table is loaded with carb-heavy dishes. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, salads drenched in sweetened whipped cream, dinner rolls, pies, and more! A simple green salad is the perfect healthier addition, especially one with fabulous fall flavors!
Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries and Candied Pecans
I am joining up with a group of superb bloggers for a Thanksgiving Potluck. If your menu for the holiday is not complete, you will find excellent inspiration in the amazing array of Thanksgiving recipes here today. After a week of cookie recipes, I decided to veer off the baking path and make a healthier autumnal dish. This Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries, and Candied Pecans is tossed with a simple, yet memorable, maple vinaigrette.
A green salad is a perfect way to balance out the carb loading that is typical of our turkey day menu. This salad dressing with a touch of maple syrup is a new favorite…just incredible. Feel free to shake up the nuts. Use walnuts or hazelnuts if you prefer. Toss in some blue cheese if you want a heartier salad. You’ll love this one.
Feeding America
Thanksgiving is also the time of year when we reflect on all our blessings. While many of us will have a week’s worth of Thanksgiving leftovers from a bounty of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, not to mention the pies and desserts, many in America still go to bed hungry. Feeding America is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing food for our nation’s hungry through a network of food banks.
They also focus on building a community of volunteers to help with this most worthy cause. Please visit their website if you’re interested in learning more about ways you can help feed America. If you’re looking for an end of the year charitable donation, please consider Feeding America.
More of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes:
- Erin from Texanerin Baking made Dulce de Leche Apple Streusel Bars
- Caroline from Chocolate & Carrots made Sweet Potato Biscuits with Cranberry Jam
- Katrina from In Katrina’s Kitchen made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
- Christina from Dessert for Two made Mini Pumpkin Pies
- Sally from Sally’s Baking Addiction made Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Mini Cheesecakes
- Georgia from The Comfort of Cooking made Spiced Caramel-Apple Crumb Bars
- Kate from Diethood made Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie
- Gina from Running to the Kitchen made Green Beans with Cranberries, Bacon, & Goat Cheese
- Carla from Carla’s Confections made Spinach Mashed Potatoes
- Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food made Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
- Liz from The Lemon Bowl made Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
- Rachel from Rachel Cooks made Brussels Sprouts Salad with Green Apples and Cranberries
- Megan from Wanna Be A Country Cleaver made Roasted Potatoes with Bacon Parmesan Vinaigrette
- Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake made Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries, and Candied Pecans
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Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries and Candied Pecans
A tasty spinach salad with an autumnal flair!
Ingredients
Salad dressing:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Candied pecans:
- 2/3 cup pecans
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salad:
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 8 cups baby spinach
- 2 firm pears Bosc or Bartlett, unpeeled, quartered, cored and cut into thin slices
Instructions
- To make salad dressing, combine the vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, salt and pepper. Drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly. Set aside.
- To candy the nuts, melt butter in saucepan. Toss in pecans and mix till coated. Add brown sugar and cook, stirring, till caramelized. Place on parchment to cool.
- To assemble salad, toss spinach, onions and pears with dressing (rewhisk as needed). Top salad with cranberries and pecans.
Notes
Inspired by The New Thanksgiving Table by Diane Morgan.
You may soften your cranberries in a bit of salad dressing before adding to salad, if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 bowlAmount Per Serving: Calories: 286Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 329mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 3gSugar: 15gProtein: 2g
37 Comments on “Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries and Candied Pecans”
I had a salad very similar to this at a wedding several years ago and I fell in love with it. I tried every vinegar based dressing I could think of but could never find the right flavors for the life of me. Can’t wait to try this out!!! Might even make it before Thanksgiving 😉Thank you for the recipe 😁
Even if we don’t do Thanksgiving on our side of the pond, I have to do this, Liz. Love the combinations of flavours and textures. Dried cranberries with savoury? Brilliant idea.
Liz this is one gorgeous salad. I love all the additions in it. Not only pretty, but so much flavour involved. So thrilled to work with you on this lady. You know I love any chance for us to do things together.
I’m so excited for this weekend. Bonding time, and some Thelma and Louise antics. See you soon. xx
This is a lovely holiday salad. The pears are a lovely addition.
I make a very similar salad but add goat cheese. Such a great one for Thanksgiving!
I love pear salads. This looks very refreshing and I’m sure it’s good to have something like this on the table at Thanksgiving xx
Awesome salad to go with your salmon. What an amazing giveaway!
Adore spinach, pears and pecans. This is a fantastic and healthy salad for the holidays.
Yum! What a wonderful salad to accompany the parade of dishes on a such important holiday!!!
If honey is used in salad dressings why not maple syrup? Luscious looking spinach salad, Liz. Love all the gourmet garnishes =)
Oh Boy does that look beautiful and tasty!
[btw – two of the fb likes are just blank on the form – don’t know who or what is missing]
A very tasty seasonal salad, Liz. Perfect with salmon.
This spinach salad sounds delicious. I love the candied pecans on top!
I always get headache whenever there’s a potluck party. I’ve to admit it isn’t easy to come up with something that can be left on the table for a long time with the right temperate. Nice dish, Liz! Awesome giveaway! I reckoned those outside USA are not eligible? Can’t seem to find the rules…… Goodluck to all!
I love salads like this and it’s perfect for fall. Pears, candied pecans and a vinaigrette with maple syrup – sounds luscious!
Liz, this looks so fresh and delicious. Love all your combination of flavors, textures and colors!
This salad is gorgeous! I love the idea of a maple vinaigrette. And thanks so much for educating us on this terrific cause.