Fall Salad with Sweet and Spicy Maple Vinaigrette

Are you taking advantage of all of the great Fall produce at the markets right now? This is a great time to experiment with different squashes and varieties of apples. We are going to pick apples this weekend, and I am excited to try out some new recipes and some old favorites…crockpot apple butter and Butternut Squash Apple Curry Soup.

Looking around the grocery store while shopping this week, I realized I had not bought any pears yet this Fall. Did you know that this seemingly simple fruit is full of amazing health benefits?!! For starters, pears are one of the highest fiber containing fruits, contributing about 6 grams in each medium-sized pear towards our daily goal of 25 to 30 grams. This helps to keep your digestive system working properly, lower levels of bad cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke. Pears are naturally high in vitamins C and K, as well as nutrients such as copper—all of which act as antioxidants to protect our cells from damage from free radicals. The wonderful combination of fiber and antioxidants in pears helps to prevent many different types of cancers.  Some other unique health benefits:

• Pears contain boron, which our bodies need in order to retain calcium, so this fruit can also be linked to prevention of osteoporosis.
• The hydroxycinnamic acid found in pears is also associated with preventing stomach and lung cancer.
• Quercetin is another antioxidant found in the skin of pears. It helps prevent cancer and artery damage that can lead to heart problems, and a recent study at Cornell University found it may also protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

I honestly had no idea that pears were so healthy since I am always emphasizing the fruits and veggies with deep dark colors like berries and leafy greens. I will definitely be adding pears into the mix more often!

This salad is one of my absolute favorite Fall salads and it just so happens to feature pears. We had it for dinner last night with roast beef and veggies.  It was so good that I had it again for lunch today!  I have also served this with our Thanksgiving dinner in the past.

Start with a base of red romaine or spring mix (I used a combination of both). Layer on some lightly toasted walnuts, thin strips of red onion, and some crumbled blue cheese. Top with the thinly sliced pears just before serving so that they don’t brown.

Top it off with this sweet and spicy maple dressing that complements the salad perfectly!

Sweet and Spicy Maple Vinaigrette

Ingredients

2 T 100% pure maple syrup

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 T. red wine vinegar

1 T. balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

4 T. extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a sealed glass jar and shake vigorously. Store leftover dressing in the refrigerator.  This amount of dressing is enough for a very large family-sized salad or to make multiple smaller salads throughout the week.