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This colorful Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad combines all the best produce that fall has to offer into the season’s best salad. Spicy baby arugula, Honeycrisp apples, juicy pomegranate seeds, candied nuts, and crispy prosciutto. All tossed with an apple cider vinaigrette. It’s a fall staple around here…healthy, simple, and so delicious.
Today is the official start to autumn so this fall harvest salad feels very appropriate. I’ve already been talking about fall for weeks. And though fall is only officially beginning, our leaves have just about reached their peak. We even had our first dusting of snow early on Monday which brought chilly temperatures and an aire of coziness.
I’m not ready for snow yet, but I’m definitely welcoming the cozy vibes. They excite me every year!
I know for most of you the weather is still fairly mild, if not warm, but I hope you’re all getting into the fall mood!
Anyway, I’ve been waiting to share this salad with you guys for a while, as it’s been on repeat around here. The second the crisp sweet Honeycrisp apples arrive at our local grocery, it’s time for fall salads.
This salad is simple, but I promise you, it’s everything delicious, and not one bit boring.
Here are the details
I wanted this salad to be three things, colorful, flavorful, and to have great texture…meaning some crunch to it.
This means candied nuts/seed and crispy prosciutto…two of my favorite ingredients!
Start by tossing the pecans and pumpkin seeds together with some maple syrup, cinnamon, and cayenne. I arrange them to one side of a baking sheet, then add prosciutto to the other.
Throw the pan into the oven and allow the nuts to roast and the prosciutto to get nice and crispy!
While the nuts/seeds are toasting, toss the salad together. Since we had a ton of fresh arugula left in the greenhouse, I used spicy arugula, which was perfect for this semi-sweet salad. If you don’t love arugula, use kale, but make sure to massage the kale with some olive oil and salt before tossing it up in the salad. You could also just use romaine lettuce.
To the greens, add lots of thin slices of Honeycrisp apples, pomegranate arils, and avocado.
Finally, the vinaigrette
This is key to the salad. A mix of oil, apple vinegar, creamy dijon, sweet apple butter, thyme, and sage. It’s so warming, sweet, and even a little spicy.
It pairs wonderfully with the flavors in the salad and is so quick to mix up too!
When the seeds are all roasted, toss the salad with the vinaigrette. Then add the seeds and the prosciutto, plus lots of feta cheese, goat cheese would be great too – serve it up, and enjoy!
Not only is this so pretty on a dinner table, but it’s totally delicious too. Sweet, tangy, and spicy with so many autumn flavors, plus an awesome CRUNCH too. I love that this salad is so versatile, you could add your favorite protein, like chicken to make it a main.
A great dish for every occasion from family dinners to Thanksgiving!
Looking for other fall salad recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Fall Harvest Roasted Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad
Shredded Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette
Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Lastly, if you make this Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Check out the how-to video here:
Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 360 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup raw pecans
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- flaky sea salt
- 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
- 6 cups arugula or shredded kale
- 2 honeycrisp apples, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, diced
- arils from 1 pomegranate
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Apple Vinaigrette
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple butter (optional)
- 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
- kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. On the prepared baking sheet, toss together the pecans, pumpkin seeds, maple, cayenne, and cinnamon. Arrange in a single layer. Lay the prosciutto flat around the nuts. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the nuts are toasted and the prosciutto is crisp. Watch both closely. Sprinkle the nuts with sea salt.3. Meanwhile, in a large salad bowl, combine the arugula, apples, avocado, and pomegranate arils.4. To make the vinaigrette. Combine all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake. Taste and adjust as needed.5. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad, tossing to combine. Top the salad with toasted nuts, prosciutto, and feta. Eat and enjoy!
This post was originally published on September 22, 2021
I made this for my husband and he was impressed with it. He went back for seconds and said it was a keeper. Everything tasted so good together and it was easy to make. We ended up having it as our main meal.
Hi Alexandra,
Fantastic!! So great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe and thanks a lot for making it. Have a great week!? xTieghan
Used Virginia ham instead of prosciutto; dried cranberries instead of pomegranate, and it was delicious. This salad is a meal in itself! Love the flavors and textures.
Hi Annette,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner. Thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Such an autumnal dish 🙂 love to try it 🙂
Thanks so much!!
This salad is amazing! Made exactly as directed except I omitted the pomegranate seeds because I didn’t have any. Such a beautiful salad with layers of flavor. Please try this one!
Hey Lora,
Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! Have the best weekend? xTieghan
Delicious!
Per comments below:
It was a lot of syrup relatively so I threw in more nuts. They did stick but syrup is sticky which is why it’s good! I peeled the nuts off the paper and chopped them up a bit.
Hey Joy,
Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! Have the best weekend? xTieghan
I hate to question but….are we positive it’s 3T of maple syrup on the nuts + seeds? I have it going in the oven right now and it seems like more syrup than anything else. Am curious how it’s going to be as it cools. Smells positively delicious!!!!!
Hey Jen,
Yes, the 3 tablespoons is correct! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Served it at a dinner party last night and it was a HUGE hit! Everyone went back for seconds and wanted the recipe…thank you!!! The syrup makes a brittle which is beyond fantastic <3.
Hi Jen,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner. Thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Should have baked the nuts 10 minutes instead of 15 because they all stuck horribly to the parchment paper!
I’d also halve the amount of cayenne pepper if I attempt this again.
Hey Carolyn,
So sorry to hear this! Are you sure you used parchment paper? Typically sticking shouldn’t be an issue with this. Please let me know how I can help! xTieghan
When I saw you post this on your IG story I knew that’s what I wanted for dinner! I didn’t have all of the ingredients so I got crafty and made it with what I had, and it still tasted amazing! I didn’t add pomegranate, or feta because I’m lactose intolerant. I didn’t have Apple cider vinegar so I had to google a substitute and made a mix of white rice vinegar, red wine vinegar and lemons. I also didn’t have a shallot so I substituted for a red onion. I had a mix of nuts so I incorporated some almonds, cashews, and pistachios. I’m so happy I tried this because it was truly fresh! The maple syrup just added the warmth it needed and the cayenne pepper gave everything else a kick. I also discovered how good toasted nuts tasted!
P.S I feel encouraged to add these new items in my pantry ?
Hey there,
Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! Have the best weekend? xTieghan
Want to make this salad, but don’t have any apple butter……what can I use instead
Thanks…….your recipes are the best!!!
I thought goat cheese ( feta) was ok for lactose intolerant people? Check it out, you might be missing out?
Hey Esther,
The apple butter is optional, so you can just skip it:) I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Would this work with blue cheese instead of feta? Or would you recommend sticking to feta for the saltiness?
Blue cheese works great in this salad!! It pairs deliciously with apple!!
Hey Maeve,
Blue cheese would also be delicious here! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
So pumped to make this going to serve some fresh bread and butter alongside
I hope you love the recipe Steph!!
I just made this but with pistachios, dried cherries, and goat cheese- OMG Tieghan you must do a HBH version! I’m sure it will be even better! But making this Autumn salad tonight 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Hey Natalie,
Wonderful!! So glad to hear that this recipe was loved, thanks for making it:) xTieghan
This looks so good! ALL the good things xx
Thanks so much!! I hope you love the recipe:)
Made it for lunch, 10/10 salad! Thanks for a great recipe. Xx
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, so happy to hear you enjoyed it! xTieghan
hi, do you have meatless suggestions to substitute out for the prosciutto?
Have you tried Epicure’s Better Than Bacon? It is made from pinto beans and nutritional yeast. My family didn’t even notice it wasn’t real bacon! (I don’t sell it…just a happy customer!)
Hey Lisa,
I would just omit the prosciutto and add another veggie that you enjoy:) I hope you love this salad, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I love honey crisp apples.
I hope you love this recipe Charlotte!
Delicious autumn salad! Thank you!
Thanks so much Stella!!