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Fall Salad With Roasted Carrots, Pecans and Goat Cheese

This salad has roasted rainbow carrots with fennel seeds, candied pecans, goat cheese, and a tangy pomegranate dressing.
Course Salad
Servings 1

Equipment

  • 1 stainless steel bowl

Ingredients
  

Salad

  • 3 cups mesclun greens
  • 1 cup arugula
  • ¼ cup cooked beets cubed
  • ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese
  • ¼ cup Fennel-Roasted Carrots
  • ¼ cup diced pear
  • 2 tbsp Candied Pecans
  • 2 tbsp mint leaves torn
  • cup Pomegranate Dressing

Fennel-Roasted Carrots

  • 1 lb rainbow carrots halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ¾ tsp fennel seeds
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Candied Pecans

  • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • tsp salt
  • 1⅓ cups pecan halves

Pomegranate Dressing

  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¾ cup pomegranate juice
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • ½ cup 125 ml olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

Salad

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a large stainless-steel bowl. Top with the dressing and, using tongs, toss until well mixed and dressed.

Fennel-Roasted Carrots

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • In a bowl, toss the carrots with the olive oil, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper.
  • Spread the carrots onto a parchment-lined sheet tray. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes until soft and golden. Remove from the oven, set aside to cool, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Candied Pecans

  • In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, cinnamon, salt, and 3 tablespoons of water and whisk to combine. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the mixture starts to bubble. Add the pecans, stirring to coat, and cook for an additional 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Transfer the pecans and their syrup to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spreading out with a spatula to flatten. Allow to cool completely. Use your hands to break into bite-size pieces. Transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature. These will keep for up to 2 weeks.
  • In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, pomegranate juice, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and whisk to dissolve the sugar. Set aside to cool.

Pomegranate Dressing

  • In a blender, combine the cooled pomegranate syrup, lemon juice, and mustard. Process on medium-high speed until smooth and well combined, 15 to 20 seconds. Stop the blender and scrape down the sides of the jar with a spatula as needed.
  • With the blender running on low speed, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified and thickened, about 30 seconds. Add the salt and pepper, adjusting the seasoning to taste. Transfer the dressing to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • This dressing will keep, refrigerated, for up to 7 days.