There’s a reason why this salad has been my most requested recipe for over 25 years—it’s simply the BEST Salad…EVER!! The combination of Gorgonzola, crisp apple, sweet dried cherries, crunchy pecans, and savory bacon creates a symphony of flavors and textures that are truly irresistible.
And let’s not forget Mary’s Sweet Balsamic Dressing, which ties everything together with a perfect balance of sweetness and tang. This salad is not just a side dish; it’s the star of any meal, guaranteed to have everyone coming back for seconds.
Whether you’re making this for a family dinner, a holiday feast, or a casual get-together, this salad is sure to impress.
The best part is its versatility—you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste, and the dressing is simple to make yet incredibly delicious. Trust me, once you serve this salad, it’s going to be requested again and again!
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Category: Salad
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients:
- 1 bag spring salad mix
- 1 bag romaine lettuce
- 3 oz bag of Oscar Mayer real bacon (or make your own—sometimes it’s just easier to cheat!)
- 1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries
- 1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans or almonds
- 5 oz Gorgonzola or blue cheese, crumbled
- Feel free to adjust the amounts of each ingredient to your liking!
Mary’s Sweet Balsamic Dressing:
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard (or a small squeeze of yellow or Grey Poupon mustard)
- A few twists of fresh cracked pepper (or 1/8 tsp of regular ground pepper)
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the spring salad mix and romaine lettuce. Add the dried cherries or cranberries, chopped apple, toasted pecans or almonds, and crumbled Gorgonzola or blue cheese.
- If you’re using the pre-cooked bacon, simply add it to the salad. If you prefer freshly cooked bacon, cook and crumble it before adding it in.
- For the dressing, whisk together the vegetable or canola oil, sugar, balsamic vinegar, dry mustard, and cracked pepper until the sugar is dissolved and the oil is well blended.
- If you plan on serving the entire salad immediately, drizzle the dressing over the salad a little at a time, tossing until you reach your desired amount. If you’re saving some for later, keep the dressing separate and add individually when ready to serve.
- Serve immediately and watch as everyone reaches for seconds!
Tips:
- You can easily substitute the dried cherries with dried cranberries, and Gorgonzola or blue cheese with goat or feta cheese, depending on your preferences.
- The sweetness of the dressing can be adjusted by adding sugar a little at a time until it suits your taste. Some people have successfully made the dressing with olive oil instead of vegetable or canola oil. If you’re curious, make a small batch with olive oil and do a taste test.
- To prevent the apple from browning, chop it right before serving.
