Description
Heirloom Apple Salad is a fresh, vibrant, and healthy dish that combines crisp heirloom apples with mixed greens, toasted walnuts, creamy feta cheese, fresh herbs, and a light honey-lemon dressing. Perfect for any season or occasion, this colorful salad offers a delightful balance of textures and flavors, making it ideal as a main dish, side, or light dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 large heirloom apples (such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady), washed, cored, and sliced
- 4 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, or baby kale), washed and dried
- 1/2 cup toasted walnuts
- 1/3 cup creamy feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (mint or basil), chopped
Honey-Lemon Dressing
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Wash and core the heirloom apples, then slice them into thin wedges or bite-sized chunks to maximize their crisp texture and flavor absorption.
- Wash and Toss Greens: Rinse your chosen mixed greens thoroughly, spin or pat dry, then place them in a large salad bowl to create a fresh, leafy base.
- Toast the Nuts: Lightly toast walnuts or your preferred nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and golden, enhancing their flavor and crunch.
- Prepare the Dressing: Whisk together honey, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt until fully emulsified, creating a bright and balanced dressing.
- Assemble the Salad: Add the apple slices, toasted nuts, crumbled feta, and chopped fresh herbs to the greens, then drizzle with the dressing and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
Notes
- Choose fresh, crisp heirloom apples for maximum flavor and texture.
- Add dressing gradually to avoid wilting the greens or overpowering natural flavors.
- Toast nuts just before serving to keep them crunchy and aromatic.
- Keep apples and greens chilled before mixing to retain crispness and freshness.
- Use sharp knives to slice apples thinly and cleanly for a pleasant texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: heirloom apple salad, fresh apple salad, healthy salad, autumn salad, gluten free salad, easy salad recipe