Description
Apple Walnut Salad is a fresh and flavorful combination of mixed greens, tart Granny Smith apples, creamy feta cheese, crunchy toasted walnuts, and a zesty apple cider vinaigrette. Perfect for a light lunch or a holiday side dish, this salad balances sweet, tangy, and savory notes with a touch of spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 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)
- Salt & ground black pepper to taste
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 tbsp maple syrup, honey, or apple jelly (use 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 the Dressing: Combine maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and cayenne pepper in a bowl and whisk until well incorporated to form the salad dressing. Set aside.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add mixed greens, sliced apples, chopped dates, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, diced red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Toss Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Season and Serve: Season the salad with salt and ground black pepper to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
- To lower the carb content, omit dates or use sugar-free apple jelly in the dressing.
- Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant for enhanced crunch and flavor.
- Use fresh baby spinach or romaine lettuce as alternatives to mixed greens for variation.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper depending on your spice preference.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day if kept separate from the dressing.
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
