My Favorite Autumn Salad

This Autumn Salad is quick and easy to throw together, loaded with nutritional goodness, and most importantly, absolutely delicious! Crunchy kale, brussels sprouts, fennel, and honeycrisp apples are coated in a simple maple-lemon vinaigrette that sings with flavor! Sweet dried cherries, salty marcona almonds, and buttery croutons bring this one into the winner circle. So many flavors and textures in every bite!

This Autumn Salad is my current obsession.

I know, I know. Salads are not that exciting at times. But this one? It is SO tasty and satisfying, I think even the salad-averse people would enjoy it.

It has a little bit of everything. Crunchy kale, raw brussels sprouts, fresh fennel, sweet honeycrisp apples, dried cherries, marcona almonds, croutons, and a homemade dressing that is to die for. This salad packs a punch! Nutritionally and in flavor.

The key to making a salad like this taste good is to thinly slice/chop the ingredients. I like to finely chop my kale and let it marinate in some of the dressing so it can soften up.

The rest of the fresh ingredients get thinly sliced on a mandolin. You could also use a sharp knife (just takes longer) or a food processor slicing blade. It’s important for the brussels, fennel, and apple to be as thinly sliced as possible! The texture really matters here.

Using a mandolin also makes the whole process really quick and easy without a lot of manual work. Love that.

The dressing is a simple one. Fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and EVOO – that’s it! Whisk is all together and season with a little salt and pepper, and you have the easiest fall vinaigrette ever!

The tang of the lemon and mustard here really makes all the ingredients sing, and the maple syrup adds a touch of that autumnal sweetness to balance things out.

When it comes to the toppings, you can be as creative as you like. I love dried cherries, marcona almonds, and whatever store-bought croutons I have in my pantry. They add some sweetness and richness to the salad, and quite frankly, make it much more exciting to eat.

I love this salad as a main course as is, but you can definitely serve it alongside your favorite protein or top it with grilled chicken to make it a more complete meal. You do you!

Ingredients You Need to Make This Autumn Salad:

For the Dressing:

• Fresh lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Maple syrup
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Salad:

• Lacinato kale
• Fresh fennel
• Brussels sprouts
• Honeycrisp apple
• Salted marcona almonds (or pistachios)
• Dried cherries (or cranberries)
• Croutons (any type you prefer!)

So much crunch and flavor in every single bite. Just how salads are meant to be!

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