Delicious Apple Walnut Salad (Full Recipe)
Description
Apple Walnut Salad is a fresh, crunchy, and slightly sweet salad made with crisp apples, toasted walnuts, greens, and a light dressing. It’s perfect as a healthy side dish for lunch or dinner and works well for gatherings or holiday meals.
Ingredients
For the Salad
4 cups mixed salad greens (spinach, arugula, or lettuce)
2 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala), thinly sliced
½ cup walnuts, toasted
¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
For the Dressing
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Toast the Walnuts
Place walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. Prepare the Apples
Wash and thinly slice the apples. If you prefer, toss them lightly with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.
3. Make the Dressing
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together:
olive oil
apple cider vinegar
honey
Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
Mix until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
4. Assemble the Salad
In a large salad bowl combine:
mixed greens
sliced apples
toasted walnuts
dried cranberries
red onion
crumbled cheese (if using)
5. Add the Dressing
Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving and gently toss to coat everything evenly.
Optional Add-Ins
You can customize the salad with:
grilled chicken slices
avocado slices
pecans instead of walnuts
pomegranate seeds
blue cheese instead of feta
Tips for Best Flavor
Use crisp sweet apples like Honeycrisp or Fuji for the best texture.
Toasting the walnuts enhances their flavor.
Add the dressing right before serving so the greens stay fresh and crisp.
Serving Suggestions
Apple Walnut Salad pairs well with:
roasted chicken
grilled salmon
turkey dishes
soups and sandwiches
