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Holiday Asian Salad

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 head green leaf lettuce washed, chopped into bite-sized ribbons
  • Red leaf lettuce may be used instead; avoid iceberg for best texture and color.
  • 1 large Honeycrisp apple or 2 small, skin on and diced into bite-sized chunks
  • If the apple is store-bought and waxy wash thoroughly before slicing.
  • ¾-1 cup dried cranberries
  • ¾-1 cup chopped pecans
  • sunflower seeds or chopped almonds are other good options.

Asian-Inspired Salad Dressing

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar raw, unfiltered or regular are both fine
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Make the Dressing:

  • In a bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, and 2 tablespoons soy sauce.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Whisk together very thoroughly until emulsified. The oil will resist blending at first; keep whisking until dressing thickens slightly and looks uniform. Dressing will separate as it sits; stir before using.

Assemble the Salad:

  • Chop 1 head of green leaf lettuce into thin ribbons, discarding the core if desired.
  • Dice the apple into bite-sized pieces, leaving the skin on for color and texture.
  • In a large bowl, layer lettuce, then top with apples, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans.
  • Adjust amounts of cranberries and pecans between ¾ and 1 cup each, to taste.

Serving Suggestions:

  • For buffet style: Dress and toss the salad right in the serving bowl just before serving.
  • For plated servings: Place salad on individual plates and drizzle with dressing just before serving.
  • Store leftover dressing separately and re-whisk before using again.

Tips and Variations

  • Substitute almonds for pecans, or add in crunchy toppings like ramen noodles or chow mein noodles for variation.
  • In other seasons, swap out apples and cranberries for broccoli florets or green onions.
  • Enjoy this salad as a light, beautiful way to balance the rich flavors of your Thanksgiving feast, or as a year-round favorite that’s easy to adapt to what’s in your pantry.

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