Panera Bread® sells a fabulous Fuji Apple Salad with seasoned chicken breast, crispy apple chips, and an AMAZING apple vinaigrette. It is sooo good! I love the combination of crunch with the saltiness of the chicken and nuts, all topped off with the sweet tangy dressing. When I saw the grocery store selling Panera’s® dressing I may have squealed in delight. I grabbed two bottles just in case it was a one-time thing. When I got home my thriftiness crept in. “I can make that. I love that salad. What have I been waiting for?” I tried a few times and have ended up with an apple vinaigrette I love.
My salad is slightly different than Panera’s®. They use chicken, but I usually leave it out and serve this as a side. They use apple chips and I use thinly sliced apples. They use toasted pecans and I use candied. Either way, this salad is a winner.
Fuji Apple Salad
yield: 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
dressing
2 Tbsp apple juice concentrate
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup Canola oil
salad
12 cups mixed greens
2 chilled fuji apples, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola
1/2 medium red onion, quartered and sliced
1 cup grape tomatoes
1/2 cup candied pecans
PREPARATION
- Blend all dressing ingredients together and set aside. You’ll have more dressing than you need.
- In a large bowl, gently toss greens with dressing.
- Divide among plates and top with remaining ingredients.
Georgia's Pampering 