There’s a few components to make this Apple Salad – and it’s worth it! With candied walnuts or pecans, plumped cranberries, thinly sliced apple and leafy greens, this is a salad that’s worthy of festive gatherings.
This Apple Salad is tossed with a simple vinaigrette – because with all the fabulous textures and flavours going on here, we don’t want the dressing to steal the show!!
A SHOW-OFFY APPLE SALAD
There’s 3 types of salads in my world:
1. quick and easy salads for midweek meals;
2. giant meal salads; and
3. show-offy salads.
In my world, the definition of “show-offy salads” are those that require a bit more effort, reserved for gatherings, lunch with friends, and for family dinners where I’m sulking because everybody else “bagsed” the “fun” courses – starters, main and dessert, leaving me with “just” salad.
“You want me to bring salad? I’ll show you a salad!!” I fume silently to myself.
And thus, I embark on a mission to make a great salad. Tasty, pretty and interesting – but still fresh enough to be a side dish.
This Apple Salad with Walnuts and Cranberries is one such salad.
This recipe centres around apples, the crisp, juicy sweetness and pairing it with leafy greens and an assortment of other ingredients to create a salad that’s loaded with great textures.
Well, actually, just one apple. That’s all you need for this recipe. Once sliced thinly, one apple stretches quite far.
I like to use red apples for this, mainly for colour and also because I prefer the sweet with a bit of tart that is inherent with most varieties of red apples here in Australia. But feel free to use any apple you want!
HOW TO MAKE MY APPLE SALAD
I did say upfront that there’s a few components to this apple salad, and I think it’s worth it if you’re going all out! BUT you can absolutely simplify it – note the significant use of the words “optional step”in the following section:
Candied walnuts (or pecans or other nuts) – Super quick, 5 minutes on the stove for crunchy toffee coated nuts. This is an optional step for show-off purposes;
Plump cranberries – Just a 5 minute soak in hot water is all that’s required to transform shrivelled up dried cranberries (or any berries) into plump little balls that burst in your mouth when you bite into them. Again, optional!
Sliced apple drizzled with lemon to stop them from browning – optional if serving immediately;
Simple dressing made with vinegar, oil, mustard and sugar. Keep it simple to let everything else shine!
Leafy greens, onion for a fresh bite and the teeniest crumble of feta or goats cheese mainly for garnish.
As I always do out of interest, I did a quick search on the internet to see how others do Apple Salad. I was somewhat bemused to see an astonishing array of mayo-laden salads made with apple.
Suffice to say, this is pretty much on the opposite end of the spectrum. I’d describe this salad as fresh and bright with the zingy dressing, the crisp sweet juiciness of apple, and the leafy greens, with added pops of flavour and textures from the sweet-tart (plumped!) cranberries and the crunch of the candied walnuts.
It really is a terrific combination! – Nagi x
MORE GREAT SALADS FOR GATHERINGS
- Wild Rice Salad – the vibrant colours in this are amazing!
- Israeli Couscous Salad
- Roast Pumpkin, Spinach and Feta Salad
- Cowboy Rice Salad
- Brussels Sprout Salad
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Cranberries
Ingredients
- 1 red apple , quartered, seeds remove, finely sliced
- Squeeze of lemon juice (to stop apple browning)
- 120 g/4 oz mixed salad leaves (4 to 5 big handfuls)
- 1/2 red onion , finely sliced (wedge way, not half moon)
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
- 2 tbsp feta or goats cheese , crumbled (garnish, optional)
Candied Walnuts (or other nuts):
- 1 tbsp butter , salted
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans
Dressing:
- 2 tbsp cider vinegar
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1.5 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
Candied Nuts:
- Place butter in a small non stick skillet over medium heat. When melted, add sugar. Stir briefly, then leave until the sugar mostly melts.
- When it starts bubbling a bit, add nuts.
- Stir 2 minutes. Pour out on parchment paper lined tray.
- Spread nuts out, allow to cool. Roughly chop half, leave some whole.
Plump Cranberries:
- Place in a bowl, pour over freshly boiled water. Leave to soak 10 minutes then drain.
Apple:
- Drizzle with lemon juice and toss (stops apple from browning).
Dressing:
- Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well. Adjust to taste – more oil to make it creamier, sugar for sweet, vinegar for tart.
Assemble:
- Place salad in a large bowl with half the apple slices and all the onion. Drizzle with half the dressing then toss.
- Scatter over the cranberries, desired amount of walnuts, remaining apple slices and feta. Drizzle with remaining dressing. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
I seriously think he’d make kids cry with this Halloween mask!! 👺👺👺
Thank you for your awesome salad recipe! You are really great! Thanks for being here to show us all your ideas.
You’re so welcome Nancy! N x
You had me at “I’ll show you a salad” LOL I truly laughed out loud at that one, so thank you!
It is a spectacular looking salad, and it is on my list to make…now if I can go find a potluck to go show off at 🙂
Love your recipes, and tell friends all the time about your site out here in Southern Oregon USA.
You crack me up!
I’m soooo immature!!!😂
Crazy dog Dozer or should I say wild and crazy Nagi. .love the mask on Dozer 👍..love the apple salad..perfect for our canadian fall.season xo
Ha yes! Crazy ME!!!
Love your modern variation of the Waldorf salad with its sophisticated version of a French dressing ! Have not made awhile . . . Don’t think Dozer minds being a Halloween ghoulie . . . . I mean there are widespread requirements for his job and sometimes it is just a case of put up and shut up . . . . . .
He understands the minute the camera clicks, he gets a TREAT!! 😂
Hope he knows how to mediate in workplace relationships . . . 🙂 ! THAT photo equalled three treats !!!
This salad sounds like it will be a favorite of mine. I love these types of salads and can’t wait to make it.
I scrolled down to look at sweet Dozer and got a big surprise. Now that is one scary mask! LOL!
Te he he!!!!
HI Nagi
Another delish recipe for my Christmas menu …hehehehehe. Thank you.
Happy Halloween (belated). Hope you all had a great time. As for Dozer …did he? Did he make the kids cry? 😂😂
Hugs, enjoy your Thursday! 😊
Dozer doesn’t scare ANYONE!!! The kids at the dog beach were all taking photos of him swimming in his witches hat!! 😂
Love the salad! Love the dog! But if I saw him walking toward me with that on…I’d be crossing the street! 😀
Happy Halloween Nagi, hope you’ve got some fun planned.
PS; the spider photo in the email…seriously?!?! You’ve got spiders that big?! O.M.G.
It only takes one the size of my little finger nail to send me across the room freaking out – encountering one of those horrible things that size would do me in. Even the photo of it freaks me out, and I know it’s not real. Can’t imagine a real one. No..NONONONO! 😀 😀
Last year I seriously had a spider that big…. I sprayed the bugger out of it then moved out for the night!! LOL!!!
And a SALAD you did make!! It is fantastic. Happy Halloween to you and Dozer 👹– he frightened the bejeezus out of me. What a mask — is he going out trick or treating? I love your new format — the process photos in a nice collage form and your other recipes in a box. Those little changes really make the information pop!! I’ve been following but super busy with moving. Sending a huge hug to your and Dozer. 🤗❤️
Thanks for the feedback on the new format Marisa! I like it too – nice to have a standard format to follow 🙂 N x
Love the salad, but Dozer is positively Scare-EEE!
Happy Halloween!
Te he he!!! I had fun doing that one!!!
Happy Halloween N and Dozer! 🎃😈👻💀👹👾
When I saw apple salad I thought Waldorf salad right away. This salad looks refreshing and healthy. Last time I made Waldorf salad I used yogurt instead of mayo cuz of being lactose intolerant…healthier too.
Holy S”:+! You get spiders that big in Australia!!! Shudder! Shudder again! Shuddering once more! 😂
I think that mask would scare alot of kids away! Then you would have to eat all that candy by yourself! 😈😇 😂
Last year I seriously had a spider that big…. I sprayed the bugger out of it then moved out for the night!! LOL!!!
This salad looks beautiful.. Very true to its type.. Show-offy salad.. I love all the component that goes in this.. Beautiful and crunchy.. Will be making it soon.. Happy Halloween to you!!
Happy Halloween to you too Arpita!!! Hope you scored lots of treats 😜
That’s a beautiful salad just in time for Thanksgiving! There is no better salad than one with fruit, nuts, and cheese in it. The candied walnuts really amp it up. Thank you for sharing it with us Nagi. We love all your recipes.
Thank you Raelene! I do hope you get a chance to try this one – I love it!! N x
Happy Halloween Dozer. have fun and snaffle lots of treats. xxx
He scored SO MANY treats at the dog beach in his witches hat get up…. 😂
I bet he did. But then who could resist that cute face of his? I know I couldn’t. I simply love animals especially dogs. x
Oh! dear Oh! dear – what in heaven’s name is your Mama doing to you…..????
But, no matter Dozer…..you will always look quite beautiful to those who love you.
Happy Halloween Dozer….HOPE YOU GOT SOME TREATS FOR DOING THIS????
P.S. going to make this recipe too Nagi….thanks so much for sharing always need a salad for our potlucks at church and my hubby and I have a salad almost every day so another recipe is always exciting!
Oh Dozer knows full well that whenever I make him pose, 2 seconds after the click of the camera he gets a treat!! 😂
Omg! That picture at the end…i’m dying because my sides split with laughter. I am having your salad for dinner. Happy Halloween!
😂😂😂 I couldn’t resist!! The funniest part was cutting out a giant hole to fit his big nose through… I kept having to make it bigger and bigger and bigger…..