Description
Crisp apple slices dance with candied walnuts in this delightful Crunchy & Sweet Apple Salad, creating a perfect balance of textures and flavors. Refreshing ingredients blend seamlessly, promising a delectable experience you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Nuts:
- 3 medium apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties, such as Honeycrisp and Granny Smith), cored and diced
- ½ cup (50 grams / 1.75 ounces) chopped walnuts or pecans (toasted for extra flavor)
- ½ cup (75 grams / 2.65 ounces) dried cranberries or raisins
Vegetables and Crunch Additions:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces) celery, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup (30 grams / 1 ounce) shredded carrots (optional, for extra crunch)
Dressing and Seasoning:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces) plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise (or a mix of both)
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (to prevent browning and add a bright flavor)
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (optional, for warmth)
Instructions
- Craft a silky dressing by vigorously blending Greek yogurt with golden honey and tangy apple cider vinegar until the mixture achieves a uniform, creamy consistency. Delicately season with salt and pepper, then set the dressing aside to allow flavors to mingle.
- Select crisp, firm apples and slice them into delicate, uniform thin pieces to ensure an elegant texture and balanced bite in the salad.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, artfully combine the translucent apple slices with crunchy celery, hearty walnuts, sweet raisins, and vibrant shredded carrots. Gently tumble the ingredients to create an appetizing medley.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad, using a light touch to coat each ingredient evenly without overwhelming the delicate components.
- For an optional luxurious finish, sprinkle crumbled feta or goat cheese atop the salad, adding a creamy, tangy dimension to the dish.
- Present the salad immediately for maximum crispness, or allow it to rest in the refrigerator for up to an hour, enabling the flavors to harmonize and intensify.
Notes
- Keep apples crisp by slicing just before serving to prevent browning and maintain a fresh, crunchy texture.
- Swap Greek yogurt with dairy-free alternatives like coconut yogurt for a vegan-friendly version that maintains the creamy consistency.
- Toast walnuts briefly to enhance their nutty flavor and add an extra layer of crunchiness to the salad.
- Experiment with seasonal apple varieties like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith to create different flavor profiles and nutritional variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg