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Home » Recipes » Autumn Harvest Salad with Creamy Date Vinaigrette

Published: Oct 30, 2018 · Modified: Oct 28, 2019 by Karly · This post may contain affiliate links

Autumn Harvest Salad with Creamy Date Vinaigrette

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With fresh fall produce and Moroccan flavors, this autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette is the perfect complement to any lunch or dinner!
Overhead view of a large black plate containing autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette. The plate is on top of a gray striped towel, and a small bowl of salt is barely visible toward the top left of the image, and a small bottle of dressing with spoon inside is at the top slightly right.Ah, Minnesota in autumn, what a glorious thing!

If there is one thing I truly enjoy about autumn here, it’s our abundance of amazing apples.

Tenderly cared for in orchards all across the state, producing the best and juiciest apples, who can’t help but indulge in all the apple-y goodness at every turn?

forty-five degree angle shot of three honeycrisp apples on a dark blue backdrop, back-lit.As much as I love getting out to the orchards to pick apples, it isn’t always convenient. Sadface, I know, but thankfully my Walmart carries local produce!

Did you know Walmart offers fresh produce by delivering them directly from growers in your state? It’s all clearly marked in each store so you know you’re supporting your local communities, like Afton, Trumps, and Minnesota Harvest Orchards, when you purchase your produce at Walmart.

And if you’re tight on time, you can also order fresh groceries with same-day pickup. Walmart’s grocery pickup service provides great value, friendly service, and fresh groceries on your schedule. Check it out at Walmart.com/Grocery.

forty-five degree angled shot of a baking sheet lined with parchment paper containing uncooked diced sweet potato and chickpeas coated in olive oil, za'atar seasoning, and salt.In late summer we get tons of fresh corn from the surrounding farms, and now that we have greens farm right outside of town, we get fresh lettuces all year! I love it!

An homage to local produce and the brilliant fall flavors of apples, I’ve whipped up an amazing harvest salad.

Close up overhead shot of a black plate containing autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette. the plate is seated on top of a gray striped napkin and a whole apple is visible to the bottom left while a small wooden bowl of salt is barely visible to the top left of the image.

Autumn Harvest Salad

So what exactly is an autumn harvest salad? It’s basically just a collection of delicious fall produce, ha ha ha!

  • At first glance, this salad looks time-consuming, but you can easily meal prep this recipe by roasting the veggies and chickpeas days in advance, doubling or tripling the recipe to enjoy this scrumptious salad all week!
  • I don’t roast the chickpeas to complete crunchiness, but you absolutely can if you’d like. To make it easier, remove as many skins as you can from the beans, dry them thoroughly, and start roasting them a good 30 minutes before adding the vegetables.
  • Utilize a hearty amount of za’atar seasoning for maximum flavor, which pairs perfectly with the creamy date vinaigrette. Can’t find za’atar seasoning? Use my recipe!
  • While I greatly enjoy the feta, you can make this recipe vegan by omitting it, and by using coconut sugar instead of honey on the candied walnuts.
  • Honeycrisp apples are my favorite in this salad. A Minnesota variety, they are crisp and sweet and in full supply in the local produce section at Walmart. If you can’t find Honeycrisp apples in your area, look for SweeTango (another Minnesota hybrid), Jazz, or Pink Lady apples. They all have a somewhat similar sweetness and crunch.

forty-five degree angled view of a black plate containing autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette which is being drizzled on the salad with a spoon coming from the top of the image. the plate is on top of a gray striped napkin and to the center-left is a small bowl of salt. the image is back-lit on a dark blue background.

Simple Date Vinaigrette

An autumn harvest salad isn’t complete without a date vinaigrette.

  • Vinegar opponents rejoice! This recipe removes the vinegar component and replaces it with tangy dijon, which is a great emulsifier.
  • Medjool dates add to the autumn theme, and boost the Moroccan flavors that encompass the entire salad.
  • Soaking the dates is pivotal to the success of the vinaigrette, as it softens the sticky fruit, and the leftover water can be used to thin the dressing as it’s blended.
  • For the parsley, I used the curly variety, but if you want a stronger flavor, grab some Italian parsley instead.

overhead view of a black plate containing autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette atop of a gray striped napkin. to the center left is a small wooden bowl of salt and to the top right is a small container of dressing with a spoon inside. an arm is visible coming from the bottom right of the image, with a script tattoo on the inner wrist. the hand is holding a fork as it readies to take a bite.

What local produce is in your Walmart? I’d love to know what’s being grown in your area, so leave a comment below, or head over to Instagram and slap my hashtag (#asimplepantry) on your photo so I can see what you’ve been making with your local produce, or if you whip up this amazing salad!

More Moroccan-Inspired Recipes

  • Moroccan Spiced Parsnip Soup
  • Roasted Za’atar Carrots and Kale Salad
  • Easy Moroccan Harira

Autumn Harvest Salad with Creamy Date Vinaigrette

With fresh fall produce and Moroccan flavors, this autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette is the perfect complement to any lunch or dinner!
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Course: Lunch, Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Moroccan
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 841kcal
Author: Karly Gomez

Ingredients

Creamy Date Dressing

  • 2 medjool dates
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon ras el hanout
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • kosher salt to taste
  • cracked pepper to taste
  • reserved date-soaking water as needed

Autumn Harvest Salad

  • 1 sweet potato peeled and diced
  • ½ head cauliflower chopped
  • 15 oz chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 1 ¼ tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 tablespoon za'atar seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup walnuts chopped
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 6 cups mixed greens
  • 1 honeycrisp apple cored and sliced thin
  • ½ cup feta
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, add the sweet potato, cauliflower, and chickpeas, then drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sprinkle in the za'atar seasoning and salt. Toss gently to coat and turn out onto the baking sheet, creating a single layer. Roast for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and browned. Remove from oven.
  • While the vegetables roast, heat a small pan over medium and add the remaining ¾ teaspoon of olive oil. Add the walnuts and honey and gently stir to coat. Toast until the walnuts are browned and fragrant, then remove from heat and let cool on wax paper in a single layer.
  • Divide the mixed greens and honeycrisp apple between two plates, then scoop generous portions of the roasted veggies and chickpeas onto each salad. Divide the candied walnuts between the plates, top with feta cheese, and drizzle with the creamy date dressing. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 841kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 1160mg | Potassium: 1359mg | Fiber: 19g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 7795IU | Vitamin C: 83.2mg | Calcium: 315mg | Iron: 8.6mg
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.

Imagery Shot With

photo-accessoriesCanon EOS 6D | Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

a pinterest pinnable image containing two of the previous images of the autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette. a pinterest pinnable image of autumn harvest salad with creamy date vinaigrette.
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About Karly

From her childhood home in Southern Minnesota, Karly embraces the crazy of everyday life by creating delicious dishes her family and friends love, while experimenting with new flavors and techniques and photographing the results. Karly’s love for beautiful foods and joy for creating is infectious to all who meet her.

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Comments

  1. Mary Tognazzini says

    August 02, 2021 at 12:49 pm

    directions for dressing?

    Reply

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author karly gomez of a simple pantry with a background of red bell peppers
Hi, I'm Karly! Welcome to A Simple Pantry, where you’ll find inspiration for any meal and every occasion with tried-and-tested recipes, step-by-step tutorials, and occasional cooking videos that help you prepare easy gourmet dishes the whole family will love.
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