This warm apple and fig salad is tossed with a maple dijon dressing and topped with crumbled bacon.
If it’s possible to OD on salad, I think I did it with this one yesterday.
An entire bunch of watercress, two apples and half a pint of figs all shoved in my face for lunch. I was slightly uncomfortable at the end but I seriously just.couldn’t.stop.
After the first half was consumed, I looked at the plate with the other half I was saving for dinner, said “what the hell” and attacked it.
Lunch was definitely one of the highlights of the day.
What wasn’t a highlight would be when 2:30pm rolled around and my washing machine which was promised to me by then did not.
Let’s just say Home Depot is on my shit list and I still have a pile of sopping wet, soapy clothes sitting on top of my dryer that have been like that for 48 hours now.
I wore a thong (sorry about the visual on that but I DESPISE thongs) to crossfit last night because I’m now officially out of underwear. It’s getting desperate. Hand washing commences today and of course I ripped my hands apart after 60 (unassisted!) pull-ups last night.
So that’ll be fun.
When I actually did manage to find the illusive salad greens on a menu in Italy, they always seemed to be watercress.
I ate watercress more in the past 2 weeks than I probably have in a year actually. So I decided to continue the trend at home with a fall twist in this fig and apple salad.
I don’t know how many times I’ve said something along the lines of “omg, this was soooo good. You have to make it!” but consider this another one.
There’s so much going on from the fresh, crispy watercress to the sweet figs, to the crunchy tart apples, to the salty bacon and the sweet maple dijon dressing but somehow, it all just works.
Beautifully.
And thoughts of incompetent delivery people disappear.
Need more fall salad inspiration? Try this roasted beet and apple salad or this roasted sweet potato chickpea salad. The maple tahini dressing is killer on that one.
Warm Apple Fig Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 bunch watercress, bottom of stems chopped off
- 2 small green apples, sliced into matchsticks
- 1/2 pint figs, sliced in half
- 2 slices bacon
For the Dressing
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon shallot, minced
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Wash and dry watercress.
- Combine all ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl and whisk together.
- Toss watercress with half the dressing in a large bowl and set aside.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel to drain, leaving bacon grease in skillet.
- Add apple slices to skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes, tossing frequently until apples are just warmed through but still crunchy.
- Plate watercress, top with apples, figs, crumbled bacon and drizzle with remaining dressing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
my new house has a fig tree. a huge and fruitful one. yup.
i could drink that dressing. holy goodness!
I’m so happy you’re back! This salad is gorgeous… I really need to get my hands on figs ASAP!
I have the absolute WORST luck with figs. I can’t find fresh, good ones ANYWHERE near me. It’s sad. This looks so good!
Oh my this looks like heaven on a plate! Confession…I have no idea how to buy figs or prepare them. Do you have to peel them or something? See, no clue here…
No need to peel, just chop off the stem, wash and eat!
This salad looks like absolute perfection! I have been dreaming of a salad with fresh figs and apples all week, somehow I still haven’t come across any fresh figs locally… hopefully at the market this weekend so I can make this salad!
I hope you get your washing machine and soon!! I’d go over there and kick Home Depots a$$!!! Your salad looks wonderful and the flavors together sound amazing!!!
Yum! This looks wonderful!
Yum, watercress is one of my favorites!
This is gorgeous