Apple and Walnut Salad (Printable)

Crisp apples and crunchy walnuts meet tangy vinaigrette in this refreshing winter salad. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Produce

01 - 2 large crisp apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), cored and thinly sliced
02 - 1 small celery stalk, thinly sliced
03 - 1.8 oz mixed salad greens (arugula, baby spinach)

→ Nuts

04 - 2.8 oz walnuts, roughly chopped

→ Cheese

05 - 2.1 oz crumbled blue cheese or feta (optional)

→ Dressing

06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
08 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine sliced apples, celery, salad greens, and walnuts.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle crumbled cheese on top if desired.
05 - Serve immediately to maintain maximum crispness.

# Chef’s Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, which means you can pull it off even when you've forgotten to meal prep.
  • The contrast between crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and tender greens gives you multiple textures in every bite, so nothing feels monotonous.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free without tasting like a restriction—just honest, bright flavors.
02 -
  • Slice your apples as close to serving as possible—they'll oxidize and turn gray if you prepare them too far ahead, which tastes fine but looks unappetizing.
  • Don't drench the salad with dressing; start with half and toss, then add more if needed, because once it's soaked in there's no going back.
03 -
  • Make your dressing in a jar and shake it instead of whisking—you get the same emulsification and it lasts longer if you have leftovers.
  • Let the greens sit in the bowl with just a pinch of salt for a minute before adding the dressing; it seasons them gently without wilting them.
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