Fuji Apple Salad at Home

It’s no secret A regular here recreating Panera Recipes at home.

My obsession started with broccoli cheddar soup and has grown exponentially over the years. And this fuji apple salad is a fall must. Actually, it’s an all year round must. Crisp apple chips, crumbled blue cheese and maple sugar candied pecans on bed of leafy baby greens, drizzled with a sweet apple cider vinaigrette. Believe me when I tell you the dressing is perfection!

In it apple cider, white balsamic vinegar is sweetened with maple syrup and seasoned with a few dried herbs and spices. It’s creamy, sweet and notable on this fuji apple salad.

And dare I say that it’s better than Panera? (because it is.)

To cook this Fuji Apple Salad Gather:

for the sweet apple cider vinaigrette:

• olive oil
• white balsamic
• maple syrup
• apple cider (not vinegar)
• dijon
• ground rosemary
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• fine sea salt
• ground ginger
• white pepper

for the salad:

• baby spring greens
• cooked chicken
• baked apple chips
• grap tomatoes
• thinly sliced red onion
• candied pecans
• crumbled blue cheese

In a mini food processor blender, measure and add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/8 teaspoon white pepper.

If you can’t find ground rosemary, throw some into a spice grinder or use a mortar and pestle to grind it up.

To that, measure and add 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar, 3 tablespoons apple cider (not apple cider vinegar), 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup and 1 teaspoon dijon mustard.

Blend until creamy and smooth.

Make the candied pecans by adding 1/2 cup pecans, 2 teaspoons brown sugar and 2 teaspoons maple syrup. Heat on medium-low, stirring until the pecans are coated and toasty.

Divide 10 ounces of baby spring mix among bowls and top with cooked grilled chicken (use leftover grilled, roasted or rotisserie chicken), crispy apple chips, thinly sliced red onion, halved tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese and candied pecans.

Drizzle with the sweet apple cider vinaigrette.

And there you have fall in a bowl. The combination of flavors is why this salad is so great. Apples, blue cheese and pecans is one of the dependable!

Make it a meal with this Autumn Squash Soup!

Enjoy! And if you give this Fuji Apple Salad recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!