Description
Apple Walnut Salad is a fresh and flavorful blend of crisp mixed greens, tart Granny Smith apples, creamy feta cheese, crunchy toasted walnuts, and a zesty apple cider vinaigrette. This salad is perfect for a quick lunch or a festive holiday side dish, ready in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens, roughly chopped (can also use baby spinach or romaine)
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced
- ¼ cup pitted dates, chopped (omit for a lower carb option)
- ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts, toasted and chopped
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
Dressing
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, honey, or apple jelly (use a sugar free jelly for a lower carb option)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- Salt & ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, combine maple syrup (or honey/apple jelly), apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic clove, and cayenne pepper. Whisk until well incorporated to create a smooth salad dressing. Set aside.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced Granny Smith apple, chopped dates, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, finely diced red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Toss the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Season and serve: Add salt and ground black pepper to taste. Give the salad a final toss and serve immediately for the freshest flavor.
Notes
- For a lower carb option, omit the dates and use sugar-free apple jelly instead of maple syrup or honey in the dressing.
- Toast the walnuts lightly in a dry skillet for 3-5 minutes to enhance their flavor and crunch.
- Use fresh garlic for the dressing and finely mince or press it to distribute flavor evenly.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a day without dressing; add dressing just before serving.
- To make the salad vegan, substitute feta cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative or omit it.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 235 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 182 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
