This apple salad combines candy tart apples, crunchy pecans, creamy feta, and a zingy maple French dressing for the proper fall facet dish. It’s prepared in simply 20 minutes and nice for straightforward weeknight meals or events!
Right here’s a easy option to flip apples into an unimaginable facet dish: my favourite apple salad recipe! If I might eat one salad for the remainder of time, this one is it. I’ve made this recipe extra instances than I can rely.
It’s obtained all the flavour and texture contrasts: crisp tart apple slices, pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy cheese, and cinnamon-spiced pecans. Topped with a zingy maple dressing, and it’s salad perfection in my e book. I serve it for dinner events and holidays, and likewise as a straightforward weeknight facet dish!
Elements on this apple salad
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 a terrific fall salad or winter salad (very best for Thanksgiving or Christmas), nevertheless it works in any season. Right here’s what you’ll want for this tasty inexperienced salad:
Selecting the proper apples for salad
I’ve tried this recipe with completely different apple varieties, and a few work higher than others. Pink Woman apples are my best choice: they’ve an unimaginable sweet-tart taste and crisp crunch that holds up nicely in salads. The brilliant crimson colour additionally seems to be stunning!
Honeycrisp apples are one other glorious choice, barely sweeter than Pink Woman however with the identical crunch. Varieties you will discover at apple orchards that work nicely are Jonathon and Jonagold.
Granny Smith apples work nicely if you happen to desire extra tartness: it’s additionally enjoyable to combine them with a sweeter crimson selection for visible enchantment. No matter you do: all the time keep away from Crimson Scrumptious apples on this salad!
Choices for the nuts
The candied pecans add a kick of candy, cinnamon-spiced goodness to this salad. Retailer-bought work in a pinch, however I desire to make my very own do-it-yourself candied pecans. It takes solely 5 minutes of prep time! I make an enormous batch and retailer them at room temperature: they hold for as much as two weeks.
For those who’re brief on time or need much less sugar, you may substitute with toasted pecans for an easier however nonetheless scrumptious crunch.
You too can use different nuts like candied walnuts or toasted walnuts, toasted almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts.
Artistic variations and serving concepts
This apple salad is certainly one of my prime 5 favourite salad recipes of all time! I most frequently make it the traditional method, however listed here are some variations I’ve tried and beloved:
- For a heartier meal: Add grilled rooster or seared rooster, and even some baked tofu to make it into a lightweight lunch or dinner.
- Cheese substitutions: Goat cheese creates a creamier texture, whereas gorgonzola provides a pointy, tangy component. Different concepts are gouda, smoked gouda, or Manchego.
- Seasonal swaps: In summer time, I substitute recent berries for the pomegranate seeds. Winter requires dried cranberries and even some sliced pear. Spring is ideal for including recent strawberries.
- Dressing alternate options: Whereas the maple French dressing is my go-to, this salad can be nice with balsamic French dressing or perhaps a honey French dressing, poppy seed dressing, or Dijon mustard dressing.
Make-ahead ideas and storage
This salad is nice for entertaining as a result of most parts might be prepped forward. I wash and dry the greens as much as two days upfront, make the candied pecans every time handy, and blend the French dressing every week forward.
The one factor to keep away from prepping forward is slicing the apples: add them proper earlier than serving to stop browning.
Dietary notes
This crisp apple salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan and dairy free, omit the cheese (and for vegan, use toasted nuts).
Simple Apple Salad
This straightforward apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple French dressing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Prepare dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Complete Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Class: Salad
- Technique: No Prepare dinner
- Delicacies: Salad
- Weight loss program: Vegetarian
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
- Recent floor black pepper (non-compulsory)
- 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 varieties. (If desired, make upfront and refrigerate as much as 2 weeks; carry to room temperature previous to serving).
- Thinly slice the apple.
- Place the greens on a big platter or particular person plates. Prime with apple slices, candied pecans, goat cheese or feta crumbles, and pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries. Prime with about 6 tablespoons of the dressing (or extra as desired) and serve instantly. (To make forward, hold all parts separate with recent components and dressing refrigerated. Toss the apples with lemon juice to stop browning. Deliver dressing to room temperature and add all components collectively immediately earlier than serving.)
Different salad recipes to strive
This apple salad is a favourite inexperienced salad recipe of ours that works for holidays simply in addition to a laid-back weeknight.
For those who love this apple salad as a lot as I do, you’ll need to strive these related recipes: Pear Salad with Pecans or Beet Salad with Goat Cheese.
For extra salad inspiration, don’t miss my Excellent Spinach Salad, Finest Kale Salad, or Favourite Chopped Salad: all reader favourite recipes!
