Danica's Daily

Every day is a new adventure to be healthy

  • About
    • Contact
  • Recipes
  • SmartPoints
  • Simply Filling
  • Menus
  • Travels
  • Beyond The Blog

Crunchy Feta, Bacon & Pecan Salad, 4 points+

March 10, 2017 by DanicasDaily 17 Comments

As Spring approaches, one thing I start to crave is big salads that pack a lot of flavor. Here is one of my favorite winter salads that for you all to enjoy for this week’s Flashback Friday. I will be the first to admit as much as I LOVE salad, it’s really all about the mix’-in’s,  toppers and how BIG I can make it.  I mean, who doesn’t love creamy feta cheese, crisp salty bacon and toasted, sweet pecans on crunchy salad.  But, there is just something about combining all these flavors with this colorful balsamic, pear, carrot, cabbage salad that makes this salad out of this world.  I honestly never knew salad could be this good until now.  I am pretty sure I dreamed about having this salad again all night after we made it lol.

I think there are a few things that really “make” this salad one you will make over and over again.

A little of the REAL DEAL cheese goes a long way. 

You could save on calories/fat by using a low fat or fat free feta, but, sometimes that rich, creamy, salty, melt in your mouth cheese is needed.

IMG_60091

Where you can SAVE on CALORIES & FAT is by using center cut bacon.

You get 3 slices of Oscar Meyer Center Cut bacon for the same points+ value as 1 slice of the real deal.  You won’t miss the flavor or the fat.

image23

I didn’t use turkey bacon because I wanted to have that rich bacon flavor throughout the salad.  I infused the shallots with all that bacon goodness and drained them before adding them to the dressing.

Have fun with FLAVORED Vinegars!!!

I love Balsamic vinegar because it is both sweet and tart.  We decided to use this PastaMore White Balsamic with Pears to play off the pear that we used in the salad…..it really just added another layer of deliciousness.

IMG_6010

Last, but, not least, make this salad because I am pretty sure you will fall  in love with it…it is by far one of the best salads I’ve made in a long time that will get repeated again and again.

CRUNCHY FETA, BACON & PECAN SALAD (print it!)

IMG_6063

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 medium head red cabbage, finely shredded
  • 2 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 large pear, cored and thinly sliced
  • 5 slices center cut bacon, cooked and roughly chopped, grease reserved
  • 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup dry roasted chopped pecans
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 2 oz. feta cheese
  • Sea salt & black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Combine cabbage through pear in a large bowl and toss.  After cooking the bacon, add the shallot to the bacon grease.  Cook for 4 minutes or until softened and slightly browned.  Remove the shallot from the pan and drain on a paper towel.

2.  Whisk together the cooked shallot, balsamic and olive oil in a small bowl and pour over cabbage mixture.  Marinate the salad for 20 minutes by chilling it in the fridge.

3.  Just before serving, add feta cheese, bacon, cranberries and pecans.  Stir just until combined and season with salt & pepper to taste.

Makes 8 servings, 1 1/4 cups each, 4 points+ or 6 SmartPoints each

Nutritional information per serving based on 8 servings calculated at caloriecount.com

image

HERE ARE THE OTHER EUPHRATES FETA – UP RECIPES I MADE LAST YEAR:

* Creamy Feta, Dill Spinach Dip with Crispy Zucchini Medallions, 3 points+

* Grilled Sausage, Pepper & Feta Pizza, 6 points+

* Cinnamon Apple Pie Feta Won Ton Turnovers, 3 points+

I have been thinking about this recipe ever since we received a big head of organic red cabbage we received in our Farm Fresh To You Farm Box.  This is one of my favorite recipe series from the archives that I thought I’d share since I am taking tonight off.  You do not even have to be a stinky cheese lover to enjoy Euphrates Feta…it really is creamy, salty and delicious (coming from a non-stinky cheese lover).

Night all!

Share38
Pin16
Tweet
54 Shares

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Salads

« Daily Snap: Flavor or Filling?
Daily Snap & This Week’s Menu »

Recent Posts

  • My WW – Weight Watchers 2020 Programs
  • Alston Park, Napa Hike & Weekly Menu
  • Weekly Menu

Comments

  1. 1

    Nikki says

    August 24, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    OMG! That sounds sooooo good! I love every single thing you put in it and I am so trying it!

    Where did you get that vinegar from?

    Reply
  2. 2

    Tami says

    August 24, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    Yummers! I love salads like that and you are so right it’s all about the mix-ins that make it a delicious salad.

    Reply
  3. 3

    Allywan says

    August 25, 2011 at 6:36 am

    I’m making this, this weekend. It looks amazing!

    Reply
  4. 4

    Sarah S says

    August 25, 2011 at 7:28 am

    That looks fantastic!!!! I am going to possibly make this over the weekend. I made the split pea soup last night. I actually really enjoyed it. I even (this is gross) ate some cold by dipping some light chips in it. It was delightful!!!

    Reply
  5. 5

    Sarah S says

    August 25, 2011 at 7:29 am

    Wow…I am such an idiot. The entire time I’m reading it I was thinking…how many servings is this. I know she said she likes big salads but THAT is a big salad. I feel better now seeing that it’s 8 servings.

    Reply
  6. 6

    The Healthy Engineer says

    August 25, 2011 at 7:49 am

    I would much appreciate some feta right now 😀

    Reply
  7. 7

    Biz says

    August 25, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    Love your salad Danica! I agree, I use real cheese and bacon all the time, just not as much – the flavor is just so much better.

    I need to find a vinegar like that! 😀

    Reply
  8. 8

    renee@mykitchenadventures says

    August 25, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    you are absolutely right Danica…it is all about the toppings! lol

    LOVE center cut bacon….don’t love the cost so much…although I have found it on sale at Target, of all places, for under $3. It is over $6 at my grocery…but you are correct about it being the absolute REAL deal!

    I have chocolate and vanilla balsamic vinegar. I have been to two places ( NY and Myrtle Beach) that sell all sorts of flavors of balsamic…I am like a kid in a candy store!

    Reply
  9. 9

    DanicasDaily says

    August 26, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    HI Nikki,

    I actually got the vinegar at a Home and Garden show. I think it’s like a pampered chef/tupperware thing based on their website. It looks like you can order online. I haven’t ever checked to see if it is sold in stores, but, it might be worth a try.

    http://www.pastamore.com/products.cfm?CatID=21

    Good luck,

    Danica

    Reply
  10. 10

    Kathleen Ferrari says

    January 4, 2013 at 4:58 am

    Hi Danica,

    This does sound like a great recipe. Can you explain why the center cut bacon is 3 slices for 1 point? The new 360 Pocket Guide says: Bacon, cooked, crisp 4 point plus points. Did I miss something?

    Kathleen

    Reply
    • 11

      DanicasDaily says

      January 13, 2013 at 6:41 pm

      Hi Kathleen,

      The values that show up in the pocket guide are average values for several brands and not necessarily for center cut bacon or a specific product. If you look up Oscar Meyer Bacon in the Complete Foods Companion by name, on the online tracker or calculate the points+ based on the nutrition facts, you will see you get a lot more bang for your buck….it’s thinner and leaner than normal bacon but just as delicious.

      Does that make sense?

      Danica

      Reply
  11. 12

    Linda says

    January 4, 2013 at 3:17 pm

    My mouth is watering…. 😀

    Reply
  12. 13

    Rachel says

    January 4, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    Danica – you always have the best pics/recipes/etc. Thanks for sharing this amazing-looking salad and taking time to share with us. You inspire me!

    Reply
  13. 14

    Gail H. says

    January 5, 2013 at 6:48 am

    Another place to order gourmet foods from…yipeeeee!! Must try that yummy looking salad! With pears from Harry & David it’s a sure winner!!

    Reply
  14. 15

    Ronda @ rondasreactions.blogspot.com says

    January 6, 2013 at 11:22 am

    Yum, I want this salad right now…I might even get up between football games and walk to the store for the ingredients 🙂

    Reply
  15. 16

    Randi says

    January 8, 2013 at 11:32 am

    I love OM center cut bacon, its my favorite bacon and I’d gladly chose it over any other because I don’t like fatty foods and this bacon is lean. I make an egg sandwich in the morning on a Bay’s English muffin with this bacon and its so good.

    Reply
  16. 17

    Beth B. says

    March 11, 2017 at 4:18 am

    Thanks for this delicious recipe. I have a cabinet full of flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils and this recipe has inspired me to experiment with them. I like your proportions of vinegar and olive oil.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Stay Connected

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Danica

Whether she’s enjoying a dish at a local restaurant or whipping up a crowd-pleasing, nutritious meal at home, Danica has a passion for all things food. She believes in and follows the Weight Watchers principle of “all things in moderation” and chronicles her culinary adventures here. Besides sharing her daily eats and tasty, nutritious recipes, Danica connects others seeking a healthier lifestyle on her site and shares her travel adventures around the world.

Free Daily Updates

Search the Site!

Categories

Blast from the past

Search by category

Appetizers Avocado Bacon Beans Beef Breads Cake Casserole Chicken Chocolate Cookies Cupcakes Eggs Fish Gluten Free Holiday How To's Ice Cream Kale Mexican Muffins Oatmeal Pancakes Pasta Pizza Pork Potatoes Salad Salads Sauces Sausage Shrimp Slow Cooker Smoothies Snacks Soup Soups Squash Treats Turkey Vegan Vegetables Vegetarian Waffles Wraps

Stay Connected!


Subscribe to email updates from Danicas Daily

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram

Recent Posts

  • My WW – Weight Watchers 2020 Programs
  • Alston Park, Napa Hike & Weekly Menu
  • Weekly Menu
  • Weekend Highlights & Weekly Menu
  • Just give in…

Get Caught Up!

January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Nov    

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy · Website Hosted by Servously Premium Wordpress Hosting