Home sweet home. It was a wonderful week in Lodi, California for the Almond Orchard experience. Thanks to California Almond Board I was reunited with many of my favorite RD bloggers and had the chance to meet new friends too. I’ll be sure to share more about what we learned there and the fun we had next week. For now, here is a picture of us at the orchard.
I’m sure glad to be home with my babe and Pearl. I have a lot of catching up to do at work today but after that we have a fun Labor Day weekend in store.. very low key like we like it= CrossFit + Farmer’s Market + College Football Saturday. A little grilling and gardening too, and I plan to get our garden area ready for fall planting.
Okay, so I’ve been really excited to share this salad recipe with you because #ohmygracious, it’s crazy good. It’s practically September so I think it’s officially time to share pumpkin things, I hope that’s okay with you…
This salad is super darlin’ because the dressing is made in a mason jar! I know, mason jars make everything sweeter and so does pumpkin pie spice. This recipe is out of this world awesome because the balsamic vinegar and pumpkin pie spice gives a sweet and tangy flavor, and it’s made creamy with kefir. Kefir is a fermented milk, kinda like yogurt but more pourable, and it has strains of probiotic bacteria good for the immune system.
This is literally my dream salad. Sweet, crunchy, tangy, savory, warm, and wowza. If you want to make this a meal, toss on diced turkey, grilled chicken, or garbanzo beans. Prep this salad in advance if you wish, by making the dressing ahead of time and storing in the fridge. I like to prep the salad in separate bowls so that the toppings are neatly and equally distributed on each salad. I’m organized and stingy when it comes to my toppings.
Have you busted out the pumpkin yet? Any fun plans for the holiday weekend?
Print
Harvest Salad with Creamy Pumpkin Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Power-packed Harvest Salad brimming with fall flavors + Creamy Pumpkin Balsamic Vinaigrette made in a mason jar!!
Ingredients
- FOR DRESSING {makes 8 servings}
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup thick balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup plain 1% kefir
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- FOR SALAD {makes 1 serving}
- 1 cup power green
- 1 cup romaine lettuce
- 2 tablespoons diced red onion
- 8 pecan halves
- 1/4 gala apple, cored and thinly diced
- 2 tablespoons dried tart cherries
- 1/4 cup diced English cucumber
- 2 tablespoons crumbled gorgonzola cheese
Instructions
- In mason jar place all ingredients for dressing. Top mason jar with lid and shake until combined.
- Layer salad greens in a bowl and top evenly with each ingredient.
- Serve with pumpkin dressing!
- **NOTE: Nutrition details for 1 salad + 2 tablespoons dressing
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: 371
- Sugar: 24
- Fat: 26
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 13
Hi I’m Kristina LaRue, RD (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. On Love & Zest, you’ll find healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I’m all about veggie-filled breakfast, meal prep recipes, healthier sweets, and easy weeknight dinners made in the Instant Pot or sheet pan.
Did you make one of my recipes?? Leave a review in the comments and tag @loveandzest #loveandzest on Instagram!
If you’re a modern mama– I’d love for you to join my Facebook group A Modern Motherhood Collective!
Hello, I am a little confused. Is this recipe for one serving salad, as in Serves 1 or four servings as in step 2? Thanks for your help. 🙂
Hi Linda– sorry to be confusing. I edited the recipe so it should read for one serving now. The ingredients were correct but directions were misleading. Sorry about that! Hope you enjoy.
This looks amazing! I was just wondering if there is pumpkin in the dressing or just the pumpkin pie spice? There is no pumpkin listed.
No puree in the dressing just the spice! But I bet a tablespoon of puree would be yummo.
OK thanks!
I’m so glad you had an amazing time in California! Pumpkin Balsamic Vinaigrette? Wow creative is this! I’m totally in love. I’ve actually never added kefir to dressings before either. Pinning and can’t wait to try. I’m busting out the pumpkin this weekend for the first time! It feels odd thinking about it though since it’s still in the triple digits here.
I know, it’s blazing outside here too… let’s eat pumpkin things and pray for cooler temps.
The flavors in that dressing are outta control! I can’t believe it’s almost Fall and we can start cooking with pumpkin again. Definitely gotta try this.
Thanks Christine!! Crazy that fall is just around the corner.
I love the idea of adding pumpkin pie spice to your dressing. Yum — this salad looks delish!
Thanks girl!! It’s to die for.
Kefir+ Pumpkin FTW! Such a creative combo, can’t wait to try this… and totally agree on being stingy with salad toppings. Have a good weekend!
Yeah, I was shocked how the kefir gave the dressing such a nice texture and color! WIN! Have a wonderful weekend yourself. 🙂