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:
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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;
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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!
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Sliced apple drizzled with lemon to stop them from browning – optional if serving immediately;
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Simple dressing made with vinegar, oil, mustard and sugar. Keep it simple to let everything else shine!
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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!
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!! 👺👺👺
Rachel says
Brilliant! So easy and looks incredible and fancy. Yum.
Rachel says
What on earth does wedge way not moon mean! I’m an Australian and I have always understood everything you’ve said before but not this lol 😉
Can’t wait to make it, just had a salad delivered (hello stage 4 lockdown) with candied walnuts and apples and omg my life has changed. Thankful our amazing Nagi has a recipe with it.
Natalie says
It means cut in half and then instead of cutting across the onion, cut it into wedges, end to end, tip to root direction.
Grettel Cordero says
This salad is the best I ever tasted, not only pretty but absolutely delicious!!
Robyn says
Another great recipe Nagi. I love a variety of salads, and this apple salad with candied walnuts was just fantastic. I could eat it all as a meal in itself. I used pecans instead of walnuts, but everthing else was kept exactly as per the recipe. My guests really enjoyed it also. Super duper salad 😀. I had this as a side to your equally lovely smoked salmon quiche. Thanks once again for sharing such beautiful recipes.
Georgie Montague says
Great salad, with wonderful tastes and textures. Served it with salmon and asparagus quiche (your recipe) and it was a hit with my lunch quests. Thanks. 😊😊
Rina says
This recipe is amazing!!! I skipped on the onions but followed everything else. Thank you so much for this!
Nagi says
You’re so welcome, I’m so happy you enjoyed it Rina! N x
Bex says
I made this to bring to the family christmas lunch. Well, actually, I made it for dinner a few nights before when some friends’ came over as a test run and it went down so well and was so easy that I knew I could whip it up again Christmas morning. And it was and it did! Even my meat and three veg (that have been steamed within an inch of their life) eating cousins were complimenting me on the salad! I’d never made caramel before, and while I slightly burnt the first batch the second batch turned out perfect and now I want to caramel everything in my kitchen!!!! Thank you for such a delicious and easy salad recipe Nagi!
Bree says
Nagi, you are amazing!! No matter how many recipes I try of yours they all turn out winners! This salad is delicious and super easy to make, thank you for another awesome dish! X
Corinne says
Can you refrigerate the dressing once made? The oil won’t make it set?
Joann says
Hi Nagi. I love your recipes!!! I’m preparing for the holidays and this salad is certainly going to be on my menu this year!!!
Karen Swartz says
What a wonderful recipe! I made it the other day, and my friends raved about it. I was serving it for a luncheon, so I added chunked grilled chicken, and crispy, crumbled bacon, because…..well, bacon! Everything is better with bacon. It was a nice change from all the heavy meals at Christmas parties and Christmas dinners, and the appearance was every bit as festive. I did leave the candied nuts at the side to be added individually, as there were some who didn’t care for nuts. We used pecans.
Shihoko Ura says
I just made this Nagi san! absolutely love this salad. I can just live off this salad this hot summer! Candied walnut and apple and mustard dressings perfect combination!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Shihoko!!
Shihoko says
Candied walnut itself is just divine! I made it more than I needed for this salad, and I am nibbling them on as snack. Yum!
Amber Daley says
This is a contender for ‘the day’, thanks Nagi, menu coming together x
Nadine says
I would give it a 10 star rating if i could.
So fresh and the dressing was an absolute winner.
I substituted red apples with green ones for a more citric taste with the goat cheese.
Nagi says
Sounds great Nadine, I’m so glad you loved it! – N x
Ana Babesku says
Show offy apple salad is going to be on my list for gethering.
Thanksgiving . Looks amazing, fresh.
Thank you Nagi and lovely Dozer.
Happy holidays.
Nagi says
Enjoy Ana!!
Vera G says
Haaaa, haaaa, how did you know I would go straight to Mr D… photos?? Love your idea of using heart and looking glass ( for D. ). Love this salad due to walnuts, Thanks.
Nanette says
Another great recipe. Nagi you are my go to for wonderful dinner ideas.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Nanette!
Heather says
This is great Nagi! Perfect for the white chicken lasagna. Great combo.
Nagi says
Yum!!
Colette Hoving says
Hi Nagi,
Can i also prepare the nuts with unsalted butter?
Nagi says
Sure can Colette!
Shari Wilds says
Love this salad but a question….should the nuts have been toasted/roasted? Flavor was great but walnuts not very crunchy…..used raw.
Nagi says
Hi Shari, you could use either, If you found them a bit soft, stock to roasted nuts – N x
Shari WIlds says
Wow, all the way from overseas you take the time to check and answer questions! You are a remarkable woman.THANK YOU,