The harvest Salad: a colorful salad is a complete meal with greens, grains, protein, and healthy fats and it can be made start to finish in under 20 minutes. Add chicken or leave it out, either way it’s a delicious complete meal!
(This post contains affiliate links off which I may make a commission. Your price remains the same)
A Complete Meal Salad:
Fall greens, sweet red apples, minced shallots, roasted pecans, tangy dried cranberries and apricots, chicken (optional) and Israeli couscous drizzled with an apple vinaigrette.
The Dressing:
Such a lovely salad deserves nothing less than an spectacular dressing. And this apple vinaigrette is just that! Apple juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, a hint of dijon and white balsamic combine to make the perfect flavor combination for this sweet and savory salad. Many stores carry white balsamic. My first pick is always Prelibato White Balsamic vinegar from Italy. You may get lucky and find it in a store, but I almost always have to buy online. Second choice, O California White Balsamic. (<—Amazon link) I find this one in many stores and it’s a little easier on the wallet.
The Israeli Couscous:
Israeli couscous is a simple pearl pasta. It can be found in almost any grocery store or you can have it delivered to your door. But sometimes I make this salad using Trader Joe’s Harvest Grain Couscous Blend. It is pearl pasta with some red quinoa, baby garbanzo beans and orzo. It gives the salad a little more texture and nuttiness!
The Recipe: The Harvest Salad: Greens, Couscous, Fall Fruit and Apple Vinaigrette
Tips and what you will need: Israeli couscous is a simple pearl pasta. It can be found in almost any grocery store or you can have it delivered to your door. If you can’t find white balsamic at the store you can order online. My first pick is always Prelibato White Balsamic vinegar from Italy. You may get lucky and find it in a store, but I almost always have to buy online. Second choice, O California White Balsamic. (<—Amazon link) I find this one in many stores and it’s a little easier on the wallet.
Fall in a bowl!
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons frozen organic apple juice concentrate Tip! reseal can with plastic and a rubber band and place back in freezer for use next time!
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 pinch sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 cup Israeli Couscous or TJ's Harvest Couscous Blend cooked to package instructions Tip: you can also use orzo pasta or quinoa
- 5 oz bag of mixed baby greens
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, diced (optional)
- 1 small red apple diced
- 1 small shallot diced (small)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup dried apricots diced (small)
- 1/4 cup roasted pecan halves roughly chopped
- 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 Tablespoons chopped mint leaves
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
-
Start a small pot of water to boil. While water heats:
-
Make apple vinaigrette by placing all ingredients in a bowl and whisking until emulsified. Set aside.
-
Add couscous to boiling water. Cook couscous to package instructions.
-
While couscous cooks dice apple, apricots and chicken (if using), chop pecans, mint, shallot and parsley.
-
When couscous is ready, pour into a colander and rinse with cold water. Place couscous in a large bowl, add nuts, apples, dried fruit, shallots, parsley and mint to bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Pour some salad dressing over couscous and toss.
-
Place greens on a platter. Dress lightly with apple vinaigrette, toss. Pour couscous and chicken mixture over greens and toss. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste.
-
Save extra dressing in the fridge for up to a week.
MAY I PLEASE ASK A FAVOR?
We small bloggers need all the help we can get. Subscribing and sharing on social media is very appreciated!
I love salads that are a spectrum of colours and textures and have some crunchy (literally) ingredients. A little sweet and a little sour too. The addition of the apple juice rounds out this dressing as a sure winner for an ‘autumn’ salad but I can see myself using this all year. Thanks!
Thanks Carol. I agree with everything you said!
This looks just lovely! Dried fruit and nuts are so perfect for autumn. I can’t wait to give it a try!
This looks so good and healthy! Yay for fall!
Fall salads with greens and cheese, don’t forget the nuts.
There is no cheese in this recipe. It is dairy free. But there are nuts!
Now there’s something I haven’t had in a long time: couscous. Must buy some next time I hit up the store and try out your recipe.
This looks amazing and so hearty! Will definitely have to try this.
i love complete meal salads, and this one looks amazing!
This salad looks absolutely amazing!
I love this flavor combination, especially the fall fruits.
I am so excited to try this for lunch one day!
Oh! That apple vinaigrette though! Lovely!!!
What a beautiful harvest salad! I love the use of Israeli couscous in this too.
This salad is so beautiful! I love all of the goodies in it … I bet each bite is loaded with flavor.
I love that this salad is dairy free and it looks yummy. Can’t wait to try it! Also I like your other recipes with goat cheese because that’s all I eat…that and sheep’s milk cheese! Thx for all the recipes.
I am a big fan of goat cheese too!
I made this salad with the pecans (not sliced almonds) and instead of plain Israeli Couscous, I used lemon herb Israeli Couscous. I used Fugi apples. It was a HUGE hit with my family. This salad is delicious and pretty enough for company. I will definitely be making this again!
Thanks! I am so glad you liked it!
I am really excited about this salad – perfect timing! It’s got all the protein, grains, and greens needed for a really good meal. And it’s yummy!
Thanks!
My whole family were big fans tonight as we had this salad for our main dish. Thanks Linda!
Hi Christina! Thanks so m uch. I am glad they liked it. We miss your sweet family!