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This refreshing shaved apple, fennel and arugula salad is tossed with candied pecans, Parmesan, basil and a lemon shallot French dressing.

Okay, this actually is simply the loveliest salad! ♡

I made it the opposite day to serve for dinner with cacio e pepe and everybody across the desk completely adored it. So I’ve now added it to our Thanksgiving lineup and can in all probability convey it alongside to a couple Christmas events too because it’s so festive and seasonal and straightforward breezy — every thing I like in a inexperienced salad this time of yr!

I pulled out my mandoline (together with this security glove, which you must undoubtedly personal too) in order that I may shave the apple, fennel and Parmesan paper-thin, which supplies this salad the loveliest ethereal, delicate texture. Then I added in a handful of candied pecans for crunch and contemporary basil for a burst of aromatics, and tossed every thing with a lemony shallot French dressing. It finally ends up having probably the most refreshing stability of candy and savory flavors. And as a bonus, the substances all maintain up nicely within the fridge, in case you’d wish to prep many of the salad beforehand (see ideas under).

Be happy so as to add in a protein (rooster, bacon, shrimp, and so forth) or swap in one other form of fruit or cheese or nuts that you just would possibly love greatest right here. The recipe itself is straightforward to customise with no matter you could have available. I simply suggest including it to your record quickly as a result of it’s good for this time of yr! Get pleasure from!

Shaved Apple, Fennel and Arugula Salad Components

Listed below are just a few fast notes in regards to the substances you will have to make this salad recipe:

• Apple: I like to recommend both Honeycrisp or Pink Girl apples (or one other comparable selection), whose crisp texture and sweet-yet-slightly-tart taste will add nice stability to the salad. I used a mandoline to chop the apple into very skinny slices, however you could possibly go for bigger chunks for those who favor.
• Fennel: Recent fennel, with its crunchy texture and delicate licorice taste, provides a pleasant little bit of complexity to the salad. Once more, I extremely suggest utilizing the mandoline or a pointy knife to chop the fennel into paper-thin slices in order that it blends seamlessly into the sunshine salad.
• Arugula: Recent child arugula is my favourite inexperienced to make use of right here, giving every chew a scrumptious pop of contemporary peppery taste.
• Parmesan: The salty, umami taste of Parmesan completely balances the sweetness of the apple and pecans and brings out the most effective of the fennel’s delicate taste. I went forward and used the mandoline to shave a block of Parmesan, since I already had it out, otherwise you’re welcome to shave it with a peeler or grate it with a Microplane. I simply extremely suggest utilizing freshly-grated Parm (versus the powdered stuff) to get probably the most strong taste.
• Candied pecans: I like the candy crunch that candied pecans (or no matter number of candied nuts) add to this salad. That is my favourite straightforward recipe to make selfmade candied pecans, otherwise you’re welcome to go for store-bought as an alternative (Dealer Joe’s has some nice choices!).
• Basil: Julienned contemporary basil provides a stunning, slightly-sweet layer of fragrant taste to the salad and performs rather well with the fennel.
• Shallot French dressing: Then lastly, we’ll gown the salad with my favourite easy shallot French dressing, made with olive oil, lemon juice, contemporary shallot, garlic, Dijon, salt and pepper.

Recipe Ideas

Listed below are just a few extra ideas to assist make this salad recipe:

• Use a cut-resistant glove with a mandoline. I like utilizing a mandoline to slice the apples, fennel and Parmesan paper-thin for this salad, however extremely (extremely!) suggest choosing up a cut-resistant glove to make use of together with your mandoline for those who don’t have one already. This $8 glove on Amazon makes utilizing a mandoline (or doing a lot of knife work) so a lot safer. Extremely suggest.
• If you happen to don’t personal a mandoline, use a pointy knife. Because the saying goes, a pointy knife is a protected knife. If you happen to decide to make use of a knife as an alternative of a mandoline for all of this slicing, please simply you’ll want to sharpen your chef’s knife beforehand. You can too use a peeler to shave the Parmesan for those who’d like.
• Slice the apple final. In an effort to forestall the apple from oxidizing and browning, it’s greatest to slice the apple simply earlier than serving the salad. You’re welcome to prep all the different substances as much as 4 hours beforehand (refrigerating the salad substances in a big bowl, whereas conserving the dressing in a separate container) for those who’d like. Then you may slice and add the apple and toss every thing collectively simply earlier than serving.

Recipe Variations

Listed below are just a few extra enjoyable variations that you just’re welcome to strive with this arugula salad recipe:

• Add a protein. Add cooked rooster, shrimp, salmon, prosciutto or bacon for further protein.
• Add grains. Add cooked quinoa or farro for further heartiness.
• Add shaved Brussels sprouts. Use thinly-shaved Brussels sprouts instead of half of the arugula.
• Use totally different greens. Use child kale, child spinach, radicchio or your favourite greens instead of (or combined with) the arugula.
• Use totally different cheese. Use crumbled goat cheese, feta cheese, or gorgonzola instead of the Parmesan.
• Use totally different fruit. Use sliced pears, figs, orange slices, pomegranate arils or grapes instead of the apples.
• Use a unique French dressing. Use an apple cider French dressing or balsamic French dressing instead of the shallot French dressing.

Extra Arugula Salad Recipes To Strive!

In search of extra arugula salad recipes to strive? Listed below are just a few of our favorites:

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