ROASTED APPLE & CANDIED WALNUT SALAD

Roasted Apple & Candied Walnut Salad image

To add even more visual interest and tasty texture, top a pretty plated salad with roasted apple fans and crunchy walnuts. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 40m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 teaspoons butter
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 large apples, peeled
3/4 cup apple cider or juice
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup walnut oil or canola oil
5 cups torn romaine
5 cups torn red leaf lettuce
1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Steps:

In a small heavy skillet, melt butter. Add walnuts and cook over medium heat until toasted, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Cook and stir for 2-4 minutes or until sugar is melted. Spread on foil to cool., Core apples and cut into quarters. Slice apples, but not all the way through, leaving slices attached at the stem end. Place apple quarters in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; fan slightly., In a small bowl, whisk the cider, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper; gradually whisk in oil. Set aside 1 cup for dressing; drizzle remaining mixture over apples. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 18-22 minutes or until tender., Meanwhile, arrange the romaine, leaf lettuce, onion and cranberries on 12 salad plates. Top each with a roasted apple fan; sprinkle with cheese and candied nuts. Drizzle with reserved dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 168 calories, Fat 11g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 191mg sodium, Carbohydrate 15g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein.