Description
Apple Walnut Salad is a fresh and flavorful blend of mixed greens, tart Granny Smith apples, crunchy toasted walnuts, creamy feta cheese, and a zesty apple cider vinaigrette. This salad offers a delightful balance of sweet and savory with a touch of spice, perfect for holiday meals or a light lunch, 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 walnuts, toasted and chopped
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
- salt & ground black pepper, to taste
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
Instructions
- Prepare Dressing: Combine maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and cayenne pepper in a bowl and whisk until well incorporated to create the salad dressing. Set aside.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the mixed greens, sliced apple, chopped dates, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, finely diced red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Toss Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until the ingredients are coated evenly to your desired taste.
- Season to Taste: Add salt and ground black pepper according to your preference and give the salad a final gentle toss before serving.
Notes
- For a lower carb version, omit the dates and use sugar-free jelly instead of maple syrup or honey.
- Toast walnuts gently in a dry skillet to enhance their flavor before adding to the salad.
- Use fresh Granny Smith apples for the ideal tartness and crunch.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be prepared up to 1 hour ahead and refrigerated, keep dressing separate until serving.
- For extra protein, grilled chicken or chickpeas can be added.
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
