A good dinner salad is one of the easiest things to throw together and, with the right ingredients, can be one of the healthiest dishes on the table. This Blueberry Pecan Salad makes a healthy side for any meal without sacrificing on flavor. It’s sweet, nutty, salty, crispy, herbaceous and refreshing.; A light vinaigrette complements the flavors without overpowering them.
Hope you enjoy!
Blueberry Pecan Salad
Blueberries, toasted pecans, feta and a few other simple ingredients provide a nice change for your dinner salad.
So be sure to see Kitchen Notes* for more information or links to special ingredients.
- ~3 cups mixed greens – 2 – 3 different types of lettuce
- 1/4 cup mix of chopped fresh herbs* (chives, mint, thyme, lovage, basil)
- 2 Tbsp. diced sweet onion
- ½ cucumber, sliced, quartered
- 1 cup whole fresh blueberries
- ½ cup feta, crumbled
- ½ cup toasted pecans*, coarsely broken or chopped
- ½ tsp. honey or maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar or cucumber vinegar*
- 1 tsp. Dijon or stoneground mustard
- 2 – 3 Tbsp. quality extra virgin olive oil
- a touch of sea salt
Place a small heavy skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the pecans.
Lightly toast the pecans by shaking the pan and flipping the pecans until they start to darken and become aromatic.
Transfer to a bowl until ready to use.
In a small bowl, add the honey vinegar and mustard. Whisk to combine.
Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a touch of sea salt. Whisk into an emulsion. Taste. Add more olive oil if needed.
Set aside until ready to pour onto salad. Before pouring, just be sure to give it another whisking.
In a medium sized salad bowl, add the mixed greens and herbs. Toss together to incorporate herbs into the greens.
Top with cucumber and diced onion, followed by the blueberries, pecans, and feta.
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and serve.
Herbs – Make at least half of the herbs fresh mint. The other half can by a mix of chives, basil, tarragon, oregano, parsley, or thyme. I usually use three herbs which includes the mint. If you don’t have fresh herbs, the add a scant tablespoon of crushed dried herbs to the vinaigrette and let rest to rehydrate until ready to use.
Pecans – Other nuts/seeds that can be used in place of pecans are toasted walnuts, slivered almonds, or toasted pumpkin seeds.
The best way to elevate a summer salad is to add a handful of fresh herbs. Fresh mint, basil, parsley and chives are always nice additions to a salad, but don’t forget other herbs like tarragon, marjoram and sage. Depending on the salad ingredients, these herbs can add a very unique flavor to a rather ordinary salad. Just be cautious of using too much of a good thing. Some herbs can be overpowering, so add a little, and taste before adding more.
My source for local pecans – New Mexico Pecan Company
If you have enjoyed this Blueberry Pecan Salad, here are some other fruit salads that you might enjoy this season and well as an instructional post by Vicki Bensinger on “Tips for Creating a Unique Salad“.
An all star salad I must say, since it has already fruits, nuts and vegetables. This is also perfect for lunch I think. Love to make some of these for lunch.
Thank you! We serve it as a meal many times.
The flavors in your salad sound amazing and so delicious…I am super tempted to grab that bowl 😀
Well, you just go right ahead. It’s a fabulous salad! Thanks Taruna!
They say we should eat more fruit, nuts and vegetables and this salad has them all.
It definitely does! Thanks Karen!
I really enjoy fruits in a salad and haven’t yet tried blueberries. Great addition! I’ve never tried cucumber vinegar either, so there’s a lot of new ideas in this recipe for me to experience MJ!
Thanks so much Roz! Happy to inspire. 🙂
Love the combination of flavours in this lovely salad, MJ. The dressing sounds lovely too. Thank you so much for sharing, and for being a party of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Sharing on the H&S facebook page. Have a lovely weekend!
Thanks so much April!
You are welcome, MJ! Just wanted to let you know I’m featuring your lovely salad at the party this week. Hope to see you there! Have a wonderful week!
Thank you so much April!
Nice, tasty and healthy! A great way to start a dinner
Thanks Raymund!
The addition of the fresh herbs really takes it up a notch! A perfect summer salad!
thanks Melissa! I grow my own herbs, so throwing a handful in a salad has become a habit. 🙂
This salad looks scrumptious, I can see it becoming a summer favorite. Now where will I find the patience to wait for weeks until the cucumber vinegar is ready?!
Thanks Dee! Oh I know about the waiting time, but it’s worth it 🙂
This is a perfect summery salad – greens, cheese, nuts, + seasonal fruit! Love that!
thanks Amy! Yep, it’s one of the salads that I can have every week, alternating with other similar salads. Just love fruit and nuts in a salad!
I love how berries can bring that extra punch of flavor and surprise to salads. The burst of juice is also appreciated in the summer. I make a goat cheese blueberry salad but seeing this beauty reminds me to be more experimental on the nut side – the missing dimension 😉 your toasted pecans sound so yummy and aromatic. Mint is such a clever idea here.
Thanks so much Kelly! As you probably have noticed, I’m a toasted nut and seed fanatic. I’m always adding them to dishes. Just love the extra layer of texture and flavor they provide. I know you are partial to walnuts and they would work great in this salad! Happy Sunday!
What a great salad, especially now that it’s blueberry season. I would try this with blue cheese, too. Thanks for a keeper of a recipe, MJ.
Thanks Debra! I bet it would be great with blue cheese!
I made an abbreviated version of this as a side salad today with grilled pompano and grilled summer squash. We have been eating a lot of blueberries lately so I only did the lettuce greens and what herbs I had (mint, celery leaves, carrot tops, basil). I really liked the herbs mixed in with the greens rather than just in the dressing. The vinaigrette was delicious. We even dipped the squash in it. I rounded out a great meal.
Happy Weekend Darlin! I’m so jealous of the grilled pompano! The only time I’ve had pompano was when we went to Florida a couple of years ago. What a great fish and I bet the salad was a nice complement. So glad you tried it and of course, an abbreviated version. I wouldn’t expect any other version. 🙂 Never thought of using the vinaigrette as a veggie dip. Will be trying that next time we grill some veggies. Thanks for the comment and hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. XOXOX
Beautiful summer salad, MJ! I would have never thought of putting blueberries in a salad, but it sounds like an extraordinary idea! Especially with pecans! Actually for me it looks like a perfect main course, not a side dish!
I totally agree about herbs! I have recently lots of shiso and add it to my tomato salads, rocket (arugula?) to lettuce salads and it’s such a nice change from the boring lettuce…
Thanks Sissi! I totally agree with rocket in a salad. I usually grow, but didn’t get it planted into time and now it’s too hot. Maybe in the fall. I love the peppery flavor it adds and really complements the herbs.
It’s local blueberry season! This is just the dinner recipe I need, quick, seasonal and full of flavor. Maple syrup in the vinaigrette is fab!
Thanks so much Deb! It does make a pretty awesome dinner. Hope you enjoy!!
I love a salad like this any time of year. Looks delicious MJ. And of course, I’d love to try it with that cucumber vinegar.
Thanks Lea Ann! If you’re growing cucumber, you really should try the cucumber vinegar. I make it every year because it’s my favorite.
Okay, I’ve never thought to infuse vinegar with cucumber! Love this idea. How refreshing. Great salad, with great ingredients.
Thanks Mimi! You do need to try the cucumber vinegar. I make a batch every summer. It’s my favorite.
Office lunch it is ! Thank you !
Thank you!
You know it is warm out when all we want to eat is salads! Love the blueberry and pecan combo so healthy and delish. Wishing you a super day!
Thanks Bobbi! You are right, salads are perfect for hot summer days and this is a good one.
What a beautiful salad. I love fruit and nuts with greens and summer herbs are a great addition. We just finished in New Mexico and it was so hot. But we love New Mexico in any season. Bet this salad tasted perfect!
Thanks Abbe! Where all do you go in New Mexico? It has been hot lately and getting hotter this weekend – 99 Degrees!!! So I guess one could say that your timing was good. 🙂
I’ve had blueberries with pecans in desserts, but don’t think I’ve ever had this combo in a salad. Brilliant idea! This looks incredibly tasty. And it’s been HOT here lately, so we’re eating tons of salad. Thanks!
Thanks John! Nothing wrong with the “idea” of dessert in a salad. 🙂
We love our salads with seasonal fruit..this is definitely my kind of salad.
Thanks Angie! I remember some of your salads with fruit. YUM!