Fruit and Feta Salad

Fruit and Feta Salad is another recipe that originated from my friend Kristen. Kristen, Dave and their 5 kids lived in Japan for a few years. While living in Japan, this was one dish they could always enjoy, even overseas. She would buy the dressing, Craisins and pecans when she came home to visit family in the States, and could always find apples, Feta cheese and Romaine lettuce in Japan. We love this salad. The spices on the pecans are what set this salad apart from a hundred other "fruit, nut, cheese and greens" type of salads. When you toss the sweetened pecans, coated with nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon into the salad - Oh my.

I use a different dressing than Kristen, I prefer the Brianne's Poppy Seed dressing to the Girard's (probably because it's sweeter). It's a great salad either way. Really yummy topped with grilled chicken for a main dish.

Fruit and Feta Salad

Salad:

1 large head of Romaine lettuce *

2 apples, chopped, not peeled

1/2 cup craisins

1/2 to 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

sugared pecans (see below)

Girards Champagne or Briannas Poppyseed Dressing

Sugared and Spiced Pecans:

1/2 lb pecans

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup melted butter

Line a baking sheet with foil. Spread pecans on baking sheet, drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle all spices and sugar on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes, toss pecans so all are coated with spice mixture. Set aside to cool.

Wash lettuce, dry or spin thoroughly, and chop. Add apples, Craisins, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss with pecan mixture and about 1/2 bottle of dressing. Serve immediately.

Tips:

-* If using Costco Romaine lettuce, use two heads (they're kind of small). Approx 10-12 cups of lettuce

-Make sure the apples are chilled. If you try to use apples that are warm, they will immediately brown after chopping. You may also dip the apples into a bowl of cold water , about 4 cups cold water to 1/4 cup lemon juice. Drain well before adding to salad.

Tweet

Pin It