Description
Crisp green apples star in this refreshing apple salad that celebrates summer’s bounty. Sweet and tangy notes complement crunchy textures, making it a perfect side dish you’ll savor with enthusiasm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), diced
- ½ cup (50 g / 1.8 oz) Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
- ½ cup (50 g / 1.8 oz) celery, thinly sliced
- ½ cup (60 g / 2.1 oz) chopped walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup (40 g / 1.4 oz) dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
- ¼ cup (25 g / 0.9 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (to prevent the apples from browning)
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Wash and core apples, then cube into bite-sized pieces. Immediately toss with lemon juice in a large mixing bowl to prevent browning and maintain crisp texture.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk Greek yogurt, honey, and salt in a small bowl until smooth and well-integrated, creating a creamy base with balanced sweetness and tanginess.
- Texture Layering: Fold chopped celery, walnuts, dried cranberries, and optional cheddar cheese into apple mixture, ensuring even distribution and creating a complex flavor profile with multiple textural elements.
- Final Assembly: Gently drizzle prepared dressing over the salad, carefully coating all ingredients without crushing delicate components. Use a folding motion to incorporate dressing thoroughly.
- Serving: Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with additional nuts or cranberries for visual appeal. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to two hours to allow flavors to meld and intensify, preserving the salad’s fresh and vibrant character.
Notes
- Prevent Apple Browning: Toss freshly cut apples immediately with lemon juice to maintain their crisp, white appearance and prevent oxidation.
- Balance Texture Carefully: Chop ingredients uniformly to ensure each bite delivers a perfect mix of crunch from walnuts, softness from apples, and chewiness from cranberries.
- Customize Dressing Consistency: Adjust yogurt-honey ratio to create a lighter or thicker dressing based on personal preference or dietary needs.
- Make Ahead Smartly: Prepare salad components separately and combine just before serving to maintain maximum crispness and prevent ingredient sogginess.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg