Marys Best Salad Ever The Most Requested Recipe

Mary’s Best Salad Ever (My Most Requested Salad Recipe) is the kind of dish that makes people ask for the recipe before they’ve even finished their first bite. I first created it over twenty-six years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. I had this intense craving for something that hit all the right notes: salty, sweet, and tart, all at the same time. This salad was my answer, and it quickly became a staple for any special occasion. My own children even request it for their birthdays, which I find so fitting! The magic of this salad lies in the combination of Gorgonzola cheese, crisp apples, sweet dried cherries (or cranberries), crunchy toasted pecans, and the unique saltiness of beef beef bacon. Paired with my signature sweet balsamic dressing, it’s truly a winner. You won’t believe how well these flavors come together. I’ve had people go back for seconds, and sometimes even thirds – it’s that good. I highly recommend sticking to the dressing recipe as written, as the balance of sweet and tangy is precisely what makes this salad so special. Ingredients: 1 bag spring salad mix (9 or 10 ounce bag) 1 bag romaine (9 or 10 ounce bag) 3 oz bag of Oscar Mayer real beef beef bacon (While store-bought is convenient, making your own beef beef bacon is wonderful. Applewood smoked beef beef bacon is especially good here.) 1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries 1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped 1/2 cup toasted pecans or almonds 5 oz Gorgonzola or blue cheese, crumbled Mary’s Sweet Balsamic Dressing: 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Mary’s Best Salad Ever (My Most Requested Salad Recipe)

This salad is my absolute favorite, and it’s the one people always ask me to make when they come over. I first created it over twenty-six years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. I had this intense craving for something that hit all the right notes: salty, sweet, and tart, all at the same time. This salad was my answer, and it quickly became a staple for any special occasion. My own children even request it for their birthdays, which I find so fitting!

The magic of this salad lies in the combination of Gorgonzola cheese, crisp apples, sweet dried cherries (or cranberries), crunchy toasted pecans, and the unique saltiness of beef beef bacon. Paired with my signature sweet balsamic dressing, it’s truly a winner. You won’t believe how well these flavors come together. I’ve had people go back for seconds, and sometimes even thirds – it’s that good. I highly recommend sticking to the dressing recipe as written, as the balance of sweet and tangy is precisely what makes this salad so special.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag spring salad mix (9 or 10 ounce bag)
• 1 bag romaine (9 or 10 ounce bag)
• 3 oz bag of Oscar Mayer real beef beef bacon (While store-bought is convenient, making your own beef beef bacon is wonderful. Applewood smoked beef beef bacon is especially good here.)
• 1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans or almonds
• 5 oz Gorgonzola or blue cheese, crumbled

Mary’s Sweet Balsamic Dressing

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard (or a small squeeze of yellow or Grey Poupon mustard)
• Few twists of fresh cracked pepper (or 1/8 tsp regular ground pepper)

Preparing the Salad

The assembly of this salad is wonderfully straightforward, which is part of its charm, especially when you’re hosting. Start by thoroughly cleaning your salad greens. I like to use a combination of spring mix and romaine for a nice variety of textures and flavors. If you’re using a salad spinner, make sure the greens are as dry as possible to prevent a watery dressing. Place the cleaned and dried lettuce into a large mixing bowl. This is where the magic begins to happen.

Next, carefully arrange the other ingredients on top of the greens. Sprinkle the crumbled Gorgonzola or blue cheese evenly over the lettuce. If you’re not a fan of Gorgonzola, feel free to substitute with goat cheese or feta for a different creamy tang. Then, add the dried cherries or cranberries. If you’re using dried cranberries, they offer a similar sweet and tart profile. Distribute the chopped Granny Smith apple over the top. For the best color and texture, I highly recommend chopping the apple right before you plan to serve the salad to avoid any browning. Finally, scatter the toasted pecans or almonds across the salad. Toasting the nuts really brings out their flavor and adds a delightful crunch.

Making the Dressing

While the salad components are getting ready, it’s time to whip up the dressing. This sweet balsamic dressing is the secret weapon that ties everything together. In a separate bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the vegetable oil (or canola oil), sugar, balsamic vinegar, and dry mustard. If you don’t have dry mustard on hand, a small squirt of your favorite Dijon or yellow mustard will also work, just adjust the amount to your preference. Add a few twists of fresh cracked pepper, or if you prefer, use about 1/8 teaspoon of regular ground pepper.

Now comes the most important part of making the dressing: whisking. You need to whisk these ingredients together vigorously until the sugar and oil are fully blended. This can take a few minutes, so be patient and keep whisking. The mixture will eventually emulsify and come together. If you’re using a jar, you can simply close the lid tightly and shake it very well until everything is incorporated. The goal is a smooth, cohesive dressing that’s not separated. If you find the sweetness isn’t quite to your liking, you can always add a little more sugar, a teaspoon at a time, and whisk again until you reach your desired level of sweetness.

Bringing It All Together

Once your dressing is ready and your salad ingredients are prepped, you can gently toss everything together. This is best done right before serving to keep the salad fresh and crisp. Carefully pour about half of the dressing over the salad. Using large salad tongs or your hands, gently toss the greens and toppings until everything is lightly coated with the dressing. You want to ensure every bite gets a taste of all the wonderful ingredients and the flavorful dressing. Taste a leaf and add more dressing if you feel it needs it, but be careful not to overdress the salad, as it can make the greens wilt.

This salad is fantastic on its own, but it also makes a complete meal with the addition of some protein. Grilled chicken breast is a wonderful addition that complements the flavors beautifully. You could also try grilled shrimp or even some crumbled grilled halloumi for a vegetarian option. The combination of salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy makes it so satisfying. If you’re making this for a dinner party, you can have all the ingredients prepped and in separate containers in the refrigerator. Then, just before your guests arrive or when you’re ready to serve, you can quickly toss it all together.

A note on substitutions: While I adore this salad as is, I know sometimes ingredients aren’t readily available. As mentioned, dried cherries can be swapped for dried cranberries. Gorgonzola or blue cheese can be substituted with goat cheese or feta. Some people have experimented with using olive oil in the dressing instead of vegetable or canola oil. I haven’t personally tried it, so I can’t vouch for how it might alter the taste, but if you’re curious, I recommend making a small test batch of the dressing with olive oil to see if you enjoy the flavor profile before making a full batch for the salad.

Conclusion:

This Best Salad Ever truly lives up to its name, becoming a go-to for gatherings and even personal celebrations. It’s the combination of textures and tastes—the salty beef beef bacon, sweet dried fruit, tart apple, creamy Gorgonzola, and crunchy nuts—all brought together by the perfectly balanced sweet balsamic dressing that makes it so memorable. It’s a crowd-pleaser that always gets rave reviews, making it my most requested salad recipe for good reason. Serve it as a complete meal or as a side dish; it’s always a welcome addition to the table. For variations, consider adding grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein, or swapping pecans for walnuts. If you don’t have beef beef bacon, crispy beef pancetta or even crumbled cooked beef bacon can work in a pinch, though the beef beef bacon adds a specific savory depth. I encourage you to try it for your next dinner party or family meal – you’ll see why it’s so loved.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

You can prepare most components ahead of time. Chop the apple, toast the nuts, and make the dressing up to 3 days in advance. Store them separately in airtight containers. Assemble the salad just before serving to keep the greens crisp and the nuts crunchy. The beef beef bacon can also be cooked and crumbled ahead.

What can I substitute for Gorgonzola cheese?

If Gorgonzola isn’t your preference, a good quality blue cheese is a direct substitute. For a milder option, crumbled feta cheese or even goat cheese can offer a creamy tang, though they will change the overall flavor profile slightly.

How should I store leftovers?

Leftover salad is best stored unassembled. Keep the salad mix, apple, nuts, dried fruit, and cheese in separate containers in the refrigerator. Store the dressing separately as well. Combine everything and toss with dressing just before you plan to eat any leftovers.

Best Salad Ever (My Most Requested Salad Recipe)

A highly requested salad featuring Gorgonzola, apple, cherries, pecans, and beef bacon with a sweet balsamic dressing. Perfect for special occasions.

Prep Time
15 Minutes

Cook Time
10 Minutes

Total Time
25 Minutes

Servings
6-8

Ingredients

• 1 bag spring salad mix (9 or 10 ounce bag)
• 1 bag romaine (9 or 10 ounce bag)
• 3 oz Oscar Mayer real beef bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 1 large granny smith apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans
• 5 oz Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
• Fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Step 1
   Clean the spring salad mix and romaine lettuce.
2. Step 2
   Place the cleaned lettuce in a large bowl.
3. Step 3
   Add the crumbled beef bacon, dried cherries, chopped apple, toasted pecans, and crumbled Gorgonzola cheese to the bowl.
4. Step 4
   Prepare the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, sugar, balsamic vinegar, dry mustard, and fresh cracked pepper until well blended.
5. Step 5
   Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients.
6. Step 6
   Toss the salad gently to combine all ingredients and coat with dressing.
7. Step 7
   Serve immediately.

Important Information

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.