‘Inner Goddess’ Crisp Apple Candied Pecan Salad with Creamy Maple Dressing.

What a delicious, crisp salad…so many flavours co-mingling, it’s a trip for your taste buds with sweet, savoury, sour all blended together in one little bite!

Yields1 Serving
Prep Time30 mins
Sweet ‘n Salty Candied Pecans
 ½ cup raw pecans
 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup, raw, unpasteurized honey or your favourite liquid sweetner, to taste
 ½ teaspoon Himalayan sea salt, to taste
 Pinch cayenne
Maple Dressing.
 ½ cup mayonnaise (or Vegan-friendly option)
 1/3 cup pure maple syrup (Dark Canada No 3 or similar if possible for more intense flavour)
 ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or your favourite vinegar)
 1 teaspoon raw, unpasteurized honey (or your favourite sweetner)
 ½ cup coconut oil
 Himalayan sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad.
 4 cups baby spinach or spring greens
 1/3 cup dried cranberries or cherries, your pick!
 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into slivers
 1 red, yellow or orange pepper, cubed
 1/3 cup Feta goat cheese, crumbled (blue cheese or Vegan cheese can be substituted)
Garnish.
 ¼ cup mint, freshly chopped
 Hemp seed
 A splash of love
Sweet ‘n Salty Candied Pecans
1

Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place pecans in a mixing bowl and drizzle with maple syrup, salt & cayenne – mix well. Arrange pecans on baking sheet and bake for 10 – 12 minutes 10 Minutes, until the maple syrup is lightly caramelized and the pecans are golden (you will smell them baking)! Let pecans cool and chop coarsely.

Maple Dressing.
2

In a food processor or mason jar, combine mayonnaise, maple syrup, vinegar, honey and coconut oil until fully incorporated. Taste and season accordingly with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Salad.
3

In a large serving bowl, combine the lettuce, dried fruit, peppers, apples, goat cheese and candied pecans. Toss with just enough of the dressing to coat and then serve with the remaining dressing on the side. Garnish with apple slices and pecans...just as an artful Chef would do! Sprinkle with freshly chopped mint and hemp seed.

{GF}

Ingredients

Sweet ‘n Salty Candied Pecans
 ½ cup raw pecans
 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup, raw, unpasteurized honey or your favourite liquid sweetner, to taste
 ½ teaspoon Himalayan sea salt, to taste
 Pinch cayenne
Maple Dressing.
 ½ cup mayonnaise (or Vegan-friendly option)
 1/3 cup pure maple syrup (Dark Canada No 3 or similar if possible for more intense flavour)
 ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or your favourite vinegar)
 1 teaspoon raw, unpasteurized honey (or your favourite sweetner)
 ½ cup coconut oil
 Himalayan sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad.
 4 cups baby spinach or spring greens
 1/3 cup dried cranberries or cherries, your pick!
 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into slivers
 1 red, yellow or orange pepper, cubed
 1/3 cup Feta goat cheese, crumbled (blue cheese or Vegan cheese can be substituted)
Garnish.
 ¼ cup mint, freshly chopped
 Hemp seed
 A splash of love

Directions

Sweet ‘n Salty Candied Pecans
1

Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place pecans in a mixing bowl and drizzle with maple syrup, salt & cayenne – mix well. Arrange pecans on baking sheet and bake for 10 – 12 minutes 10 Minutes, until the maple syrup is lightly caramelized and the pecans are golden (you will smell them baking)! Let pecans cool and chop coarsely.

Maple Dressing.
2

In a food processor or mason jar, combine mayonnaise, maple syrup, vinegar, honey and coconut oil until fully incorporated. Taste and season accordingly with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Salad.
3

In a large serving bowl, combine the lettuce, dried fruit, peppers, apples, goat cheese and candied pecans. Toss with just enough of the dressing to coat and then serve with the remaining dressing on the side. Garnish with apple slices and pecans...just as an artful Chef would do! Sprinkle with freshly chopped mint and hemp seed.

Notes

‘Inner Goddess’ Crisp Apple Candied Pecan Salad with Creamy Maple Dressing.