Apple Sausage Salad with Cinnamon Vinaigrette

Name: Apple Sausage Salad with Cinnamon Vinaigrette
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 4 slices cinnamon-raisin bread; 1/3 cup olive oil; 3 tablespoons cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons honey; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon sea salt; Dash pepper; 1 package (12 ounces) fully cooked apple chicken sausage links, cut diagonally in 1/2-inch-thick slices; 2 packages (5 ounces each) spring mix salad greens; 2 cups sliced fresh Bartlett pears; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted; 1/2 cup dried sweet cherries

Making croutons with cinnamon-raisin bread is sweet genius. Toss together the rest of the salad while they toast. —Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey

Ingredients

4 slices cinnamon-raisin bread
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Dash pepper
1 package (12 ounces) fully cooked apple chicken sausage links, cut diagonally in 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 packages (5 ounces each) spring mix salad greens
2 cups sliced fresh Bartlett pears
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 cup dried sweet cherries

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. Cut each slice of bread into 12 cubes; scatter over a 15x10-in. pan. Bake until toasted, 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway. Cool 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine next six ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake until blended. In a large nonstick skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned and heated through, 2-3 minutes per side.
Divide salad greens among six dinner-size plates; add sausage to each plate. Top with pear slices, walnuts, cherries and croutons. Shake dressing again; spoon over salad and serve immediately.

Editor's Note

To toast nuts, bake in a shallow pan in a 350° oven for 5-10 minutes or cook in a skillet over low heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving: 404 calories, 23g fat (4g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 441mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 5g fiber), 14g protein.

Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Originally published as Pear & Walnut Mixed Green Salad with Pan Seared Sausage and Cinnamon Vinaigrette in Taste of Home November 2016

Reviews

Click stars to rate

Average Rating:

siden

Jul 12, 2017

Delicious! The whole family really enjoyed this salad!
Orbs

Nov 14, 2016

Wow! The best croutons I have ever eaten! I added pistachios, a chopped apple, and a shredded carrot. So delicious! Thanks Kim, for sharing this recipe!
simplysweetfromscratch

Oct 19, 2016

Absolutely loved this! The vinaigrette is amazing and the combo is great! I had picky eaters so I left off the walnuts and cherries and added a Cinnamon Apple cheese from Happy Farms!