• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Dinner-Mom

  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Keto-Friendly SBD Phase 1
  • Plan Dinner
    • How to Meal Plan
    • Seasonal Produce Guide
  • About Me
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • All Recipes
  • About Me
  • Plan Dinner
  • Sign-up!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Fancy Salad with Fennel, Feta, Watermelon & Pecans

    UPDATED Aug 5, 2020 · PUBLISHED Jul 25, 2013 BY Marjory Pilley · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe

    There's a place in my neck of the woods where you can dine on the rocks. Literally. I've got a picture below to prove it. But, you won't be roughing it. Nope. Just look at this fancy salad with fennel, watermelon bits, candied pecans and feta you can enjoy while you are watching dolphin, sea birds and boats go by.

    Fancy Salad on a plate with fennel, feta cheese and watermelon bits

    This is my version of the house salad served at River Rocks here on the Space Coast of Florida. Tender butter lettuce is topped with shaved fennel, candied pecans, finely diced watermelon and crumbled feta cheese. An orange honey mustard vinaigrette is drizzled over the top.

    Fancy Salad like River Rocks on a plate

    Now, that's what I call a fancy salad with a unique combination of flavors that I would never have thought up all on my own. Thank you, River Rocks!

    View of River Rocks Restaurant

    If you look closely, you can see that there is a very long bar running along the rocks where you can look out over the water and enjoy this fancy salad and lots of other tasty entrees, such as Caribbean Shrimp and Alligator Black Bean Chili. There's more seating inside and then there is the elegant dining room...but, that's a whole another post.

    Fancy Salad Step-by-Step

    Candied Pecans on parchment paper

    To candy the pecans, add butter and brown sugar to a pan. Melt and stir the mixture over medium heat. Stir in the pecans and coat them with the sugar mixture. Remove pecans to wax paper and allow them to cool and set while preparing the rest of the salad ingredients. Note that the River Rocks version uses pecan pralines, which is too much work for this mom! I think I saved a few calories too with this splurge-worthy addition.

    Fingers holding shaved fennel on a cutting board

    I could probably do an entire post on fennel. I haven't worked with this vegetable very much...like never...except for the dried spice. But, I enjoyed the licorice flavor in the salad.

    It's not hard to work with. But, instead of loading in 3 or 4 more pictures, check out this video on working with fennel by Dr. Derek Alessi and Chef Binks. There's also a recipe for using the remaining fennel. Bonus: fennel is a healthy addition to the salad according to Dr. Alessi.

    My cliff notes:

    • Cut off the green fronds. You will be using only the white bulb.
    • Cut the bulb in half and cut out the hard middle part.
    • Use a mandoline or knife to shave the bulb in very thin pieces, the thinner the better!

    Finely Diced Watermelon on a cutting board

    Another surprising ingredient in this recipe is diced watermelon. Genius. I love watermelon and it adds a pretty pink color and sweet flavor which nicely offsets the other fancy salad ingredients. Did I mention the feta?

    Big bowl of Fancy Salad with fennel watermelon feta and candied pecans

    The orange honey mustard vinaigrette offers another level of flavor to the salad. I don't have River Rocks' secret salad dressing recipe, but I found this one at Whole Foods and it is tasty. It's a combination of Dijon mustard, honey, canola oil, orange juice and white wine vinegar. You can add some diced onion too.

    Fancy Salad with Feta Cheese, Watermelon Bits, Pecans and Fennel on a plate

    This fancy salad goes well with most entrees. After all, it is a "house salad." It's just not an ordinary one!

    Dock over the Indian River lagoon

    This is a view of the Indian River Lagoon. If you get the chance to dine at River Rocks, make sure you take some time enjoy the scenery from the dock and snap a few pictures.

    Fancy Salad with Fennel, Feta, Watermelon and Candied Pecans

    Salad greens topped with fennel, feta, watermelon and candied pecans. Drizzle with orange honey mustard vinaigrette for a fancy and flavorful salad.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 452kcal
    Author: Marjory Pilley

    Ingredients

    Salad

    • 8 cups salad greens I used butter lettuce
    • ½ cup pecans
    • 2 Tablespoons butter
    • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar packed
    • ¼ fennel bulb green fronds and hard middle core removed
    • ⅛ seedless watermelon
    • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled

    Orange Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

    • ⅓ cup canola oil
    • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 3 Tablespoons orange juice
    • 2 Tablespoon white wine vinegar

    Instructions

    • Melt and combine butter and brown sugar in a pan over medium high heat.
    • Add pecans and stir to coat with sugar mixture.
    • Remove pecans to wax paper and allow to set while preparing the rest of the salad.
    • Use mandoline or knife to shave fennel into very thin slices.
    • Cut watermelon into thin slices and finely dice. Blot with paper towel, if necessary to absorb excess juice.
    • Layer salad greens, fennel, watermelon, feta cheese and pecans in a large bowl.
    • Gently toss.
    • Serve with Orange Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.

    Instructions for Dressing

    • Add all of the ingredients to a jar or bowl and stir vigorously to combine.
    Grab 5 Low-Carb Saucesand get more easy, healthy recipes! JOIN HERE

    Nutrition

    Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 320mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 2010IU | Vitamin C: 38.1mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer
    « Fruit Pizza Cookie Recipe and Design Inspirations
    Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies »
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nini

      July 25, 2013 at 8:46 am

      This sounds yummy..I so enjoy butter lettuce...daily! And the dressing!!
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Marjory

        July 25, 2013 at 12:13 pm

        Thanks! We'll have to go there next time you visit. 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Thanks for stopping by! We're sharing easy, healthy recipes. . . many from the Meal Assembly Kitchens we owned. Most are low-carb too! Read more about us here.

    Grab the FREE Low-Carb Sauces Cheat Sheet and get easy, healthy recipes, and tips to be spectacularly organized in the kitchen!

    Popular Recipes

    • Lemony Baked Basa - Quick and Easy!
    • Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
    • Microwave Corn on the Cob in Husk - No Messy Silk!
    • Ground Chicken Meatloaf - Amazingly Delicious Recipe!
    • Roasted Cauliflower Rice from Frozen (or Fresh)
    • Parmesan Cauliflower Bites - Just 5 Ingredients!
    • Steel Cut Oatmeal Crock-Pot Directions
    • Energy Balls with Medjool Dates

    Now Trending

    • Steak Shish Kabobs in Red Wine Marinade
    • Watermelon Salad with Basil, Feta and Balsamic Syrup
    • Cucumber Onion Salad with Rice Vinegar
    • Chocolate Zucchini Brownies Recipe
    • Hawaiian Quesadillas with Ham, Pineapple, & Cheese
    • Parmesan Cauliflower Bites - Just 5 Ingredients!

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Copyright © 2022 The Dinner-Mom
    Privacy Policy
    Accessibility Policy