Strawberry Pecan Salad

Almonds and walnuts get all the press when it comes to salad topper nuts, but there’s a whole world of other nuts out there to explore! And today, it’s time for pecans to show off what they’ve got. In this salad, crunchy caramelized pecans add a delicious touch of Southern sweetness to a big pile of lettuce and fresh berries. Add the mustard-poppyseed dressing and just a little bit of bite with some red onion, and you’ve got a perfect combination for a hot, late-summer afternoon.

If you’re not big on honey, you can definitely leave it out here; just cook the chopped pecans until they’re warm and toasted and carry on with the salad as usual. You’ll get a little less sweetness in the final product, but that’s not necessarily a problem, especially if you’re saving your sweet tooth for dessert.

This one works as either a side salad or a main meal: to make it into a side, just leave out the chicken. And if you’ve got a serious appetite, you could always add even more chicken. Either way, it’s delicious with a bowl of soup, or maybe some simple summer chicken if you’re using the salad just as a side dish.

Strawberry Pecan Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecans, chopped;
• 12 oz. Romaine lettuce, chopped;
• 8 oz. fresh strawberries, halved;
• 4 oz. fresh blueberries;
• 1/4 cup red onion, sliced;
• 2 clementine oranges, peeled;
• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced; (optional)
• 1 tbsp. raw honey; (optional)

Dressing Ingredients

• ½ cup lemon juice;
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard;
• 2/3 cup. olive oil;
• 1 tbsp. honey; (optional)
• 1 tbsp. poppy seeds;
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper;

Preparation

1. Sauté the pecans with the honey until caramelized in a skillet placed over a medium heat. Set aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, chicken, and onion.
3. Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl.
4. Drizzle the dressing on the salad and toss gently.
5. Serve the salad with the candied pecans on top.