Wendy's Apple Pecan Salad with Chicken Copycat Recipe
Wendy’s apple pecan salad is fresh, sweet, and nutty - the perfect light bite to add to any meal. Make this delicious copycat recipe at home!
Ingredients
- 6 cups diced romaine lettuce
- 3 cups spring mix/baby greens
- 1/2 large Granny Smith apple chopped
- 1/2 large Braeburn apple chopped (or other sweet red apple)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 8 ounces grilled chicken pieces
- 4 ounces candied pecans
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 2 ounces blue cheese crumbles
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/3 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup extra light olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Place the romaine and spring mix lettuces in a large salad bowl.
- Chop the apples and coat the pieces with lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
- Add the apples, chicken, pecans, cranberries, and blue cheese crumbles to the lettuces and toss to combine.
- Prepare the salad dressing by whisking together the lemon zest, salt, pepper, sugar, minced garlic, pomegranate and orange juices, and vinegar.
- While whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle the oil into the juice mixture. Whisk continuously to emulsify the salad dressing.
- Pour the salad dressing (you may not use all of it) over the salad and toss to combine. Add more salad dressing as desired and garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Extra virgin olive oil would be overpowering in this vinaigrette. We want to keep the dressing light and tangy - this is why we recommend a very light olive oil, or preferably, vegetable oil.
Use 100% pure pomegranate juice - it is available in the refrigerated juice section. Orange juice also adds some tang with a bit of sweetness to the vinaigrette, but sugar is needed to offset the vinegar.
Lemon juice keeps the apples from discoloring. Squeeze about a tablespoon or so over the diced apples and toss them around so the lemon juice coats all the sides of the apple pieces.
The salad dressing can be prepared in advance - shake well before tossing with the salad. The salad should not be prepared until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 290cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 313mg | Sugar: 17g | Fiber: 2g | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg