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!! 👺👺👺
Kayla says
Nagi you’ve done it again! I quickly made this as a side salad at dinner and my fiance kept raving about it. I skipped candying the walnuts and plumping the cranberries this go around but will try that next time – it’ll probably blow his socks off, lol.
Margot says
Happy to report that this salad ticked all the boxes at a recent gathering – definitely a ‘show offy’ salad! The candied walnuts got rave reviews, as did the ‘plumped’ cranberries – everyone wanted the recipe!
Nagi says
Ah yes! Those candied nuts always seal the deal!! And those “plumped” cranberries – no one can resist them 😂
Shirley says
Looks good
Carolyn says
Thinking of taking this for Christmas Lunch. Can I assemble and dress earlier or wait till I’m there????
Nagi says
Hi Carolyn, dress salads just before serving to avoid them going soggy. N x
Maricar says
Can I add chicken?
Maricar says
Can I add chicken too?
Nagi Maehashi says
Of course!
Lynda says
Thanks
Lynda says
Hi Nagi, is cider vinegar the same as apple cider vinegar.?
Nagi says
Yep it sure is! 🙂 N x
Amy Browne says
Thanks for a lovely recipe. This is going to be my go to salad over Christmas. I enjoyed it along with your Roast Pork recipe. That crackling! Yummm!
Pan says
Made this salad last night and it was delicious! The salad dressing also goes a long way!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Lindi Phillips says
I love seeing your gorgeous Dozer Posts, he’s always into something…..
Pam says
Perfect, exactly what I needed!! The list just went up for everyone to nominate what salad they are bringing to Melbourne Cup lunch! Looking forward showing off with this one. Thanks Nagi!
Nagi says
Hope everyone loves it Pam!! N x
Nj says
What would you recommend instead of Dijon mustard in dressing? (Isn’t that the one that tastes like horseradish?) I don’t care for that, but would love to make dressing. Any suggestions?
Nagi says
No! It’s the mild one! 🙂 Otherwise just leave it out 🙂 N x
Nancy, USA says
Thank you for your awesome salad recipe! You are really great! Thanks for being here to show us all your ideas.
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Nancy! N x
Kim says
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!
Nagi says
I’m soooo immature!!!😂
Gillian DidierSerre says
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
Nagi says
Ha yes! Crazy ME!!!
Eha says
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 . . . . . .
Nagi says
He understands the minute the camera clicks, he gets a TREAT!! 😂
Eha says
Hope he knows how to mediate in workplace relationships . . . 🙂 ! THAT photo equalled three treats !!!
Naomi says
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!
Nagi says
Te he he!!!!
Gail says
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! 😊
Nagi says
Dozer doesn’t scare ANYONE!!! The kids at the dog beach were all taking photos of him swimming in his witches hat!! 😂
Leah says
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! 😀 😀
Nagi says
Last year I seriously had a spider that big…. I sprayed the bugger out of it then moved out for the night!! LOL!!!