This simple apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple French dressing.
Bought an apple? Right here’s a easy approach to flip it into a wonderful aspect dish: this gorgeous Apple Salad recipe! If we may eat one salad for the remainder of time, this one is it. Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon spiced pecans. Toss them throughout contemporary greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s actually salad perfection. Right here’s our greatest ever apple salad recipe, preferrred for weeknights, dinner events, Thanksgiving, and extra.
Elements on this apple salad recipe
This apple salad recipe is all about minimal components with most affect. It’s fancy sufficient for entertaining, but easy sufficient to pair with a straightforward weeknight meal. The flavors make it an excellent fall salad or winter salad (preferrred for Thanksgiving or Christmas), however it works in any season. Right here’s what you’ll want for this tasty inexperienced salad:
Greatest forms of apples for a salad
What are one of the best forms of apples for an apple salad? A crisp tart apple selection is greatest right here. You’ll need an apple that has a beautiful crunch while you chew into it, and a little bit of tartness within the taste profile makes for one of the best pop. Listed here are our prime apple varieties for a salad:
- Pink Woman: our favourite apple, palms down! The flavour is extremely candy tart and it has a beautiful, vivid pink shade
- Granny Smith: it has an excellent tart taste! We propose mixing this with one other pink apple, like a Pink Woman or Honeycrisp
- Honeycrisp: a bit sweeter and juicier than Pink Woman, however nonetheless an excellent choice
- Jonathon or Jonagold: these are apples you may decide at an orchard; they’ve obtained a pleasant candy tart taste as nicely
There are many different nice apple varieties: tell us your favorites within the feedback beneath.
Candied pecans add massive taste
What makes this apple salad stand out? All the weather contribute, however the candied pecans actually add a kick of candy, cinnamon-spiced goodness. Listed here are just a few notes on candied pecans and some substitutions:
- Candied pecans take simply 35 minutes and make a big batch that’s simple to retailer. It’s completely well worth the time to make a batch that works for salads for weeks or months.
- Retailer at room temp 2 weeks or frozen 3 months. These nuts keep completely crisp and scrumptious for the complete storage time.
- Alternatively, attempt bought candied pecans or make toasted pecans. Don’t wish to make your individual? You’ll find them on the retailer, or just make toasted pecans! Toasting nuts on the stovetop brings out their distinctive taste.
- Or, attempt candied walnuts or every other nut you want. Candied walnuts are one other nice alternative! Or attempt the salad with pistachios, almonds, or hazelnuts: it’s simply as tasty!
Apple salad variations: dressing, mix-ins and extra
There are various methods to differ this apple salad recipe: as famous above with the nuts. However you may attempt it with completely different dressing choices and different mix-ins. Listed here are just a few concepts for alterative dressings and mix-ins:
Extra salad recipes
This apple salad is a favourite inexperienced salad recipe of ours that works for holidays simply in addition to a laid-back weeknight. However there are such a lot of extra riffs on this idea! Listed here are just a few extra of our favourite tasty salads:
On the lookout for extra with apples? Go to our prime Apple Recipes.
This crisp apple salad recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan and dairy free, omit the cheese (and for vegan, use toasted nuts).
Description
This simple apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple French dressing.
For the salad
For the maple French dressing dressing (use 6 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider or white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- Contemporary floor black pepper (non-obligatory)
- If utilizing, put together the candied pecans upfront (or use bought).
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the maple syrup, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk within the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time till a creamy dressing types. (If desired, make upfront and refrigerate as much as 2 weeks; convey to room temperature previous to serving).
- Thinly slice the apple.
- Place the greens on a big platter or particular person plates. High with apple slices, candied pecans, goat cheese or feta crumbles, and pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries. High with about 6 tablespoons of the dressing (or extra as desired) and serve instantly. (To make forward, maintain all elements separate with contemporary components and dressing refrigerated. Toss the apples with lemon juice to stop browning. Deliver dressing to room temperature and add all components collectively instantly earlier than serving.)
