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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
This one really impressed my Mom (along with the butternut squash carbonara I served). She said it is the best salad she’s had in 74 years ?
So, so good! We added sunflower Microgreens ??
Fantastic salad! I had to leave out the apple butter and feta but I still absolutely loved this salad. This will be a staple for the holidays this year! Super easy to put together and definitely a crowd pleaser.
Hi there! Thanks so much for trying out this recipe! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it 🙂 xTieghan
Hands down the best salad I’ve ever eaten! I told my family we couldn’t have it again because I was going to save it for Christmas and they didn’t take it well ? Easy to do a vegan version too, because the non vegan bits go on last. I used dairy free feta and added some baked sweet potato for my vegan. Thanks SO much Tieghan!
The BEST salad I’ve ever had. Thanks for my new favorite recipe!
I made this last night and I think I want to make it again today! It was delicious! I only subbed out the Feta for goat cheese and it was amazing. It has ALL the things – tart apples, sweet pomegranates, creamy cheese, salty/crunchy prosciutto, tangy dressing. So tasty!
OMG! This salad is GOOD! I absolutely loved all the flavors and my guests kept going for seconds and thirds. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe, Tieghan!
Just amazing !!!! Couldn’t stop eating it.
Hey Kristin,
Happy Sunday!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try! xTieghan
Incredible! This ranks high on my list of best things I’ve made from you! The sage in the dressing is everything! I added chicken to mine and subbed craisins for the pomegranate and it was delicious! I can’t wait to have another huge salad tomorrow!
Hey Julian,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
This was awesome! I swapped dried cherries for the pomegranate arils, but followed otherwise. New favorite salad!
Hey Beth,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
I loved this salad ! Great recipe ??
Hi Bridget,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! xTieghan
Thank you! This salad dressing is EVERYTHING. And of course the salad is great too! If I’m in a rush I just throw together mixed greens, an apple, feta, and the Sweet & Spicy Pecans from Trader Joes. But I do not skimp on the dressing! SO GOOD! And husband approved
Hi Brittany,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
OMG!! This is the perfect way to kick off fall (in FL, where it’s 80 degrees). We are all loving this in my house and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for fall inspired recipes! I served the salad with bone-in, skin on chicken thighs just cooked easily on the stove in my cast iron. SO good!
Hey Autumn,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Second time making this salad.
Second time that I received rave reviews!
It’s a delicious combo – the vinaigrette is really yummy – so full of flavor with the fresh herbs.
The nuts are addictive – I made a double batch and almost didn’t have enough because my guests kept going back for more.
It’s too early to find pomegranates – so that was missing.
I love the sweetness of the apples with the more bitter kale and arugula (I used a 1/2 and 1/2 combination of both greens)
Another home run, Tieghan!
Hey Donna,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Absolutely love this salad!!
Hey Fiona,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan