Description
A vibrant harvest salad featuring roasted vegetables, crisp apple, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy maple pecans, all tossed in a bright lemon thyme dressing. It’s a perfect balance of fresh, hearty, and seasonal flavors.
Ingredients
4 cups arugula
1 cup kale, stems removed and chopped
1/2 cup goat cheese
1 large sweet potato, cubed
3 large carrots, sliced
1/2 red apple, diced
1/2 cup pecans
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/3 cup fresh mint, torn
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 lemon, juiced and zested
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the sweet potato cubes and carrot slices on the baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for about 30 minutes until tender and slightly caramelized. Let cool completely.
- Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat, add maple syrup, toss to coat, and let cool.
- In a jar or bowl, combine Dijon mustard, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup or honey, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Shake or whisk until smooth and emulsified.
- In a large bowl, combine arugula, kale, roasted vegetables, diced apple, goat cheese, maple pecans, and fresh mint.
- Pour dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately.
Notes
Swap goat cheese with feta for a saltier flavor.
Add grilled chicken or chickpeas for extra protein.
Use walnuts or almonds instead of pecans if desired.
Add dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds for extra sweetness.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Keep dressing separate until serving to prevent sogginess.
Roasted vegetables can be slightly reheated before adding back to the salad.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 495 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
