I’m fairly confident that spring, and thus fresh salad-season, is just around the corner. When it officially arrives (after the inevitable late-season snowstorm Iowa has a knack for throwing our way!) we’ll be ready with Black & Blue Spring Salad with Honey-Roasted Pecans and Berry-Balsamic Vinaigrette! The name is as big of a mouthful as each bite of this gorgeous, flavor-packed salad!
Berry-Packed Spring Salad
Homemade, lightly-sweetened Honey-Roasted Pecans and a sweet-tart Berry-Balsamic Vinaigrette join fresh blackberries and really good crumbled blue cheese on a bed of spring mix lettuce in this elegant appetizer salad. Want to make it a full meal? Add roasted shrimp, grilled chicken, or a juicy steak. The recipe is based on the Market Salad from Whole Foods which combines spring mix lettuce with walnuts, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a stellar combo for sure, but my version takes things up a notch with the inclusion of Honey-Roasted Pecans and a fresh Berry-Balsamic Vinaigrette. You’ll love every crispy, creamy, sweet-tart bite!
Start by making the Honey-Roasted Pecans — they are SO easy and SO impressive. Simply melt butter in a bowl then add honey and stir to combine. Add whole pecans then stir to coat.
Spread the pecans onto a silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet then bake for 5-6 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the nuts are golden brown and fragrant. Sprinkle lightly with salt when they’re fresh out of the oven then cool completely. Once cool, the pecans have a fabulously light and sweet crunch. They’re so delicious that you might as well make a double batch because you’ll lose half to snacking!
Next make the Berry-Balsamic Vinaigrette, which can be made up to several days ahead of time. It gets better and better as it sits in the fridge.
Add fresh blackberries and sugar in a food processor or blender then pulse to crush the berries slightly. Let the berries and sugar sit and get juicy for a minute or two.
Next add balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, salt and pepper then process or blend until the dressing is smooth. Taste then adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
Next crumble high quality blue cheese, like Iowa’s own Maytag Blue Cheese, to top the salad with.
Blue cheese is very strong so you’ll only need a bit crumbled on top of each salad. If you don’t love blue cheese, feel free to use creamy chevre (aka goat cheese — honey chevre would be divine in here), or crumbled feta cheese.
Last step is to divide spring mix lettuce between plates then top with the honey-roasted pecans, blue cheese crumbles, and tons of fresh blackberries. Drizzle with the homemade berry-balsamic vinaigrette and you’re set!
Like I said, this salad is the perfect starter for a meal or would make a killer entree salad with the addition of grilled or sauted shrimp, chicken, or steak. I vote for steak. Blue cheese + steak? Winning!
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