Spinach Apple Pomegranate Harvest Salad

Jump to Recipe -

My Harvest Salad is super healthy, packed with flavor, and loaded with crunchy candied pecans! Featuring spinach, apple, pomegranate, and tangy feta, it makes a beautiful presentation for entertaining.

Harvest Salad

This apple spinach pomegranate salad has got to be the prettiest salad ever! I am in love with the color combo — it’s perfect for the fall and winter holiday season.

Plus, my harvest salad is super healthy and tastes AWESOME! I am not a huge salad lover, but this one may convert me. The addition of some yummy candied pecans adds the perfect crunch, while the homemade vinaigrette dressing brings a touch of zesty flavor. I know some people don’t love fruit in their salads, but the added pomegranate arils and chopped apples really do bring everything together.

It would also be great topped with some leftover rotisserie chicken!

And if you’re looking for some other great side dishes for your Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, don’t miss my Triple Berry Pretzel Salad, Skillet Garlic Green Beans, and Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes recipes too.

Why You’ll Love My Harvest Salad Recipe

Tasty mixture of textures
Utterly delicious flavors
Topped with homemade dressing
So easy to customize!
Fantastic for holidays and events

side view: drizzling vinaigrette dressing over my harvest salad recipe

Key Ingredients to Make My Pomegranate Salad Recipe

BABY SPINACH – Mild with a great texture, I find spinach to be the perfect base for my harvest salad recipe! If you can’t find baby spinach, you can use full-size — you may want to chop it first.
APPLES – You can use whatever kind of apples you’d like here, but I usually go for ones that are crunchy and won’t brown too quickly. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Fuji are all good options.
POMEGRANATE ARILS – These come packaged from the grocery store, or you can buy a full pomegranate and remove them yourself. If you do want to DIY it, the key is to score the fruit down its natural ridges, then gently pry it open. It works every time!
FETA – I love the contrast of tangy and salty feta with the sweet pecans, apples, and pomegranate. I have some more cheese options for you all below if you’d like to switch things up.
CANDIED PECANS – I decided to go the distance and make some easy candied pecans from scratch! You’ll need pecan halves, butter, sugar, and cinnamon. If you don’t have time, you could always use storebought.
VINAIGRETTE – Also homemade! I combine extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper for a nice, sweet and savory flavor.

overhead closeup: my pomegranate salad recipe with spinach, apples, pecans, and feta

Instructions to Make Spinach Pomegranate Salad

PREPARE THE CANDIED PECANS: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium then add the pecans, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir until the nuts are toasted and place on a piece of parchment paper to cool.

MAKE THE VINAIGRETTE DRESSING: Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl and whisk until well combined.

ASSEMBLE THE HARVEST SALAD: Gently toss all of the salad ingredients together in a bowl. Arrange until you reach the desired look, drizzle with vinaigrette, and add candied pecans. Serve and enjoy!

FAQ

What is the meaning of harvest salad?

A harvest salad is a fall-focused dish usually made with seasonal ingredients. Not all recipes are the same, but most include pomegranate seeds, apples, nuts, cheese, and a vinaigrette. They’re perfect for the end-of-year holidays or for a fun lunch at home.

How do you pick a ripe pomegranate?

Pick up the pomegranate and give it a slight squeeze. It should be firm to the touch and feel heavy like it’s packed with juice. The color is going to be dark and there shouldn’t be a lot of bruises or blemishes.

What is the best fruit to mix with pomegranate?

Apples are certainly the most popular, which is why I chose to add them here! If you’re looking for more fruit options that would work in this pomegranate salad recipe, pears or oranges are good options.

Can I make this harvest salad recipe ahead of time?

While I wouldn’t recommend assembling the salad too far in advance (it will get soggy), there are some things you can do to get some of the prep work down ahead of time. You can prepare the candied pecans up to 5 days in advance and store them in a glass food storage container. You could also make the vinaigrette dressing 4-5 days in advance. Store it in the fridge in a sealed container. Keep in mind there are no preservatives, so it’s not going to last as long as store-bought dressings! Everything else should be prepped right before serving for the best texture.

overhead: spinach pomegranate salad with apples, pecans, and cheese in a large wooden bowl

Salad with Pomegranate and Apples Pro Tips

Save time using store-bought pomegranate arils: If you don’t want to de-seed a pomegranate yourself, look for the arils at your grocery store. Some may or may not carry them, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
Use ripe apples: They’ll give your harvest salad recipe the best flavor and texture! They should give ever so slightly to the touch without being too soft.
Try different kinds of cheese: Some other cheeses you could try in this include goat cheese (this is really good!) or gorgonzola.
Swap the nuts: You can also sub out the pecans for almonds, walnuts, or pistachios. I think pistachios would be really good in this spinach apple salad and I’m really wishing I would have made it that way instead!
Go for pears: You can also use pears instead of apples.
Add fruit right before serving: Don’t add the apples until ready to serve as they may turn brown.
Add chicken: If you’re in the mood for some more protein, go ahead and top my pomegranate salad recipe with some rotisserie chicken! It makes it a little more filling and tastes great.
Adjust the sweetness: I personally love the addition of pure maple syrup to my vinaigrette, but if you prefer a less sweet dressing, feel free to use less or omit it altogether.

More Salad Recipes To Try

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you think about my salad with pomegranate and apples!

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for all my latest updates!