Vibrant and full of perfectly balanced flavors, this crowd-favorite salad gets an irresistible boost of texture and depth from nutty shredded cheese and crisp, crunchy cashews. Home cooks consistently praise its ideal harmony between bright, tangy lemon dressing and sweet, fresh fruit notes. “This colorful, delicious salad gets me through the entire winter,” shares reviewer Catman.

Ingredients

• ½ cup white granulated sugar

• ½ cup fresh lemon juice

• 2 teaspoons finely diced onion

• 1 teaspoon Dijon-style prepared mustard

• ½ teaspoon fine salt

• ⅔ cup neutral vegetable oil

• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

• 1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

• 4 ounces shredded Swiss cheese

• 1 cup whole cashews

• ¼ cup dried cranberries

• 1 apple, peeled, cored and diced

• 1 pear, peeled, cored and sliced

Directions

1. First, prepare the sweet-tangy dressing: Combine sugar, lemon juice, diced onion, mustard, and salt in a food processor or blender, then process until fully smooth and evenly blended. With the machine still running, pour in the vegetable oil in a slow, steady stream, mixing until the dressing emulsifies into a thick, silky mixture. Add poppy seeds, and process just a few more seconds to incorporate them evenly.

2. Add romaine lettuce, shredded Swiss cheese, cashews, dried cranberries, diced apple, and sliced pear to a large serving bowl, and toss gently to mix all the salad ingredients together. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad right before serving, then toss thoroughly to coat every ingredient evenly before enjoying.