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 solution to flip apples into an unbelievable facet dish: my favourite apple salad recipe! If I may 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 received 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 simple weeknight facet dish!
Components 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 simple weeknight meal. The flavors make it an incredible fall salad or winter salad (ultimate for Thanksgiving or Christmas), however 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 Girl apples are my best choice: they’ve an unbelievable sweet-tart taste and crisp crunch that holds up nicely in salads. The intense purple coloration additionally seems lovely!
Honeycrisp apples are one other glorious possibility, barely sweeter than Pink Girl however with the identical crunch. Varieties you will discover at apple orchards that work nicely are Jonathon and Jonagold.
Granny Smith apples work nicely for those who favor extra tartness: it’s additionally enjoyable to combine them with a sweeter purple 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 favor to make my very own do-it-yourself candied pecans. It takes solely 5 minutes of prep time! I make a giant batch and retailer them at room temperature: they preserve for as much as two weeks.
In case you’re quick on time or need much less sugar, you’ll be able to substitute with toasted pecans for a less complicated however nonetheless scrumptious crunch.
You may as well use different nuts like candied walnuts or toasted walnuts, toasted almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts.
Inventive variations and serving concepts
This apple salad is one in all my high 5 favourite salad recipes of all time! I most frequently make it the basic 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 factor. 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 options: Whereas the maple French dressing is my go-to, this salad can also be nice with balsamic French dressing or perhaps a honey French dressing, poppy seed dressing, or Dijon mustard dressing.
Make-ahead suggestions 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 prematurely, make the candied pecans each 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 forestall 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 simple apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple French dressing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Complete Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Class: Salad
- Technique: No Cook 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 prematurely (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 kinds. (If desired, make prematurely and refrigerate as much as 2 weeks; deliver 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, preserve all parts separate with recent components and dressing refrigerated. Toss the apples with lemon juice to forestall browning. Convey dressing to room temperature and add all components collectively straight earlier than serving.)
Different salad recipes to attempt
This apple salad is a favourite inexperienced salad recipe of ours that works for holidays simply in addition to a laid-back weeknight.
In case you love this apple salad as a lot as I do, you’ll need to attempt these comparable recipes: Pear Salad with Pecans or Beet Salad with Goat Cheese.
For extra salad inspiration, don’t miss my Good Spinach Salad, Greatest Kale Salad, or Favourite Chopped Salad: all reader favourite recipes!