Winter Harvest Steak Salad {Paleo + GF}
Sometimes all I want is a massive salad as an entire meal. Almost always for lunch, and even for dinner many days. They can be so incredibly satisfying, you know? Especially when we’re talking about this very seasonal, comforting, and hearty Winter Harvest Steak Salad.
Salads are the same concept as a one-pot meal, with a few important differences. The biggest being all the various textures, which can be missing from many other one-pot meals. Don’t get me wrong, I love me a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or braised meal.
But salads are something else entirely, and when I crave that texture, they are the only thing that will do. They can somehow be crunchy, creamy, and tender all at once. Plus, they are a blank canvas. You can do so many things with a base of lettuce.
Thankfully people have been taking this concept and running with it. The lunch and dinner bowl craze is totally our style of eating. Simple to build, customizable, and full of flavors. It gives us freedom to make our meals when we want them, and just how we want them. And I totally dig it.
Plus, let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that a plate of greens is anything other than a means to go bonkers with toppings. They are the best part of course. This is coming from a girl who actually loves her lettuce too. Truly. But the toppings? The more the merrier over here.
Remember in our last recipe post how I shared that sometimes a dish is made simply to let one component shine? Well we have done that again today. This time is all about Quick Vanilla Maple Candied Pecans.
We love nuts in our house, and this comes from a family history on my side too. Candied nuts are a natural progression for this sweets loving couple. So much that we make a trip to an authentic German market during the holidays to enjoy the world’s best candied nuts. And we absolutely make them at home too, of course.
But to make authentic candied nuts, you need some time, and some patience. They are a bit more labor intensive that we wanted to deal with if we are just using them enjoy on a salad. Instead, we came up with a shortcut method that we think you will adore as much as we do.
Warning, you may end up eating half the batch of nuts before your salad hits the plate. Which is why we included a recipe for a much larger serving than is necessary for the salad. Because we have been there, more than a few times, and know how addicting these little lovelies are.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Winter Harvest Steak Salad {Paleo + GF}
Ingredients
Salad
- 3-4 cups baby Arugula
- 1/2 - 1 cup leftover steak sliced
- 1/3 cup Pomegranate seeds
- 1/3 recipe Quick Candied Pecans recipe follows, or raw pecans
- 1/2 cup leftover roasted squash or sweet potato sliced or cubed
- 1/4 cup Goat cheese crumbled, or more to taste (optional)
- Maple balsamic or similar sweet-tart dressing
Quick Vanilla Maple Candied Pecans
- 8 ounces raw pecan halves
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon maple sugar can sub coconut sugar
Instructions
Salad
- Split arugula between 2-4 plates, depending on number of servings. Arrange all toppings in layers, or toss together. Drizzle with sweet-tart dressing of choice, and enjoy immediately.
Quick Vanilla Maple Candied Pecans
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside. In a medium bowl, add pecans, maple syrup, and vanilla, and toss to combine. In a separate small bowl whisk together salt, cinnamon, and maple sugar. Add dry ingredients to the pecans, and toss again to combine.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, toss, and bake for another 10-12 until browned and crispy. Begin checking after 18-20 minutes to prevent burning. Let cool completely before using in the salad. This recipe makes more than you will need for the salad, but you will absolutely want the extras for snacking!
Notes
- Feel free to sub the toppings for what you have on hand, or what is local to you this time of year.
- You can use any dressing you have on hand, but we love to make this Maple Balsamic. It is incredibly easy and the flavors compliment our salad perfectly!
