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Grape and Candied Walnut Salad

September 20, 201515 Comments

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Grape and Candied Walnut Salad - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com

Sweet grapes, candied walnuts, crisp greens, and nutty cheese are combined to make this tempting salad. (yes, I just called a salad tempting and I stand by that!) I like this salad so much, I will happily eat it twice a day whenever I have the ingredients in the house.


I made this Grape and Candied Walnut Salad for the first time over 4 years ago and was hooked from the first bite. The sweet fruit and nuts are balanced perfectly by the greens, the cheese, and a tangy vinaigrette. Within a few months, this was easily the most popular salad I could take to any event and it was frequently requested.

Despite the fact that September is almost soup weather for most of the country, we are still happily eating salads and light meals most days. I am beside myself with happiness because cooler weather is slowly creeping into my corner of the desert. Last night, the temperature actually dropped below 100°F. That’s a BIG deal in Phoenix. I won’t be putting away my shorts and t-shirts any time soon, but at least I’ll be able to open the windows for a breeze in the near future!

Out of all the salads we make, this is the all-time favorite for my boys and when given a choice, they will choose this salad every time. I just choose to ignore the obvious fact that they love the salad because it is basically made out of grapes and candy. What’s not to love?

Grape and Candied Walnut Salad - get the recipe at barefeetinthekitchen.com
Kitchen Tip: I use this knife, this bowl, and this jar to make this recipe.

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Grape and Candied Walnut Salad

Sweet grapes, candied walnuts, crisp greens, and nutty cheese are combined to make one of our favorite salads.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 -6 servings

Ingredients 

  • SALAD INGREDIENTS:
  • 8 cups baby spinach or spring mix greens
  • 2 cups red grapes sliced in half
  • 1/2 cup candied walnuts see below
  • 1-2 ounces pecorino romano cheese shaved into slivers
  • 1/4 cup  Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • CANDIED WALNUT INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 2 cups walnuts roughly broken into small-ish pieces

Instructions

  • TO MAKE THE SALAD:
  • Combine the greens, grapes, walnuts, and cheese in a large bowl. Drizzle lightly with dressing, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
  • TO MAKE CANDIED WALNUTS:
  • In a heavy bottomed saucepan (not a non-stick variety), heat the water and sugar to boiling. When the sugar dissolves and the syrup reaches a boil, add the walnuts. Stir to coat and continue cooking over high heat until syrup is dissolved into a light brown liquid and coats the walnuts.
  • Once the syrup is dissolved, pour out the candied nuts onto a silicone mat or parchment lined baking sheet. Work quickly to separate the nuts, using a couple of forks. They will be VERY hot. (Try not to burn your fingertips!) Let them cool completely before storing. Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe is hugely adaptable. Feel free to change it up however works best for your tastes. Depending on my mood, I may add slivers of red onion, or swap the grapes for fresh berries. Feta and gorgonzola cheese also work well with this salad. While it works great with both baby spinach and spring mix greens, I tend to use baby spinach most of the time. The above recipe makes about 2 ½ cups of candied walnuts. You'll only need a small handful for this salad. Happy snacking!

Nutrition

Calories: 553kcal · Carbohydrates: 98g · Protein: 7g · Fat: 16g · Saturated Fat: 2g · Cholesterol: 7mg · Sodium: 199mg · Potassium: 543mg · Fiber: 3g · Sugar: 91g · Vitamin A: 5705IU · Vitamin C: 19.3mg · Calcium: 165mg · Iron: 2.7mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!
{originally published 10/16/11 – notes and photos updated 9/20/15}

ONE YEAR AGO: Dark Chocolate Orange Ice Cream
TWO YEARS AGO: Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
THREE YEARS AGO: Cornbread Crusted Baked Chicken Nuggets
FOUR YEARS AGO: Caramelized Onion and Chicken Quesadillas

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Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

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  1. Debbi says

    Oh THIS looks like something that would be so good.
    I am such a big fan of fruits and nuts with salads !!!
    The dressing sounds like it would be perfect for it too.
    As always….Yummmmmm
    debbi

    Reply

  3. Lizzy says

    Gorgeous salad, fabulous dressing and delectable walnuts! Love it! I also had to pop over to say how lovely your flourless chocolate cake looks on Monet's blog…amazing!!!!

    Reply

  13. Becki's Whole Life says

    we must have the same taste buds:-)…this sounds delish! I love a salad with candied walnuts and I have never made my own. The strawberry vinaigrette looks so pretty and it sounds so fresh. We are still trying to get out of the heat here so I am still doing some summer type recipes mixed in with my fall dishes.

    Reply

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