We are heading out on an apple picking adventure later this week, so I have all things fall and apple on my mind. A couple of years ago after a morning of apple picking, my mom shared an apple salad recipe like this that I have since recreated on my own because it was so dang good!
It comes together quickly. It’s easy enough to serve to family on a week night, but delicious enough to serve to guests.
Ingredients in Fall Apple Salad
Spring mix This is a mix of salad greens you can buy at most grocery stores. The mix contains baby greens/lettuces, giving them a soft crunch and light, fresh flavor. Spring mix contains a variety of lettuces, but in general lettuce is low in calories but loaded with nutrients like fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C.
Apples Are rich in vitamin C, fiber and many other nutrients.
Dried cranberries Cranberries contain vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E, vitamin K1, and copper, which makes them beneficial for skin, blood clotting, and the body’s antioxidant system. They are also high in antioxidants.
Pecans Pecans contain many nutrients such as fiber, copper, thiamine and zinc making them helpful for digestive health, wound healing and a healthy immune system.
Goat cheese Goat cheese provides protein, healthy fats such as medium-chain fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It also contains less lactose and less A1 casein than cow’s milk, which may make it easier to digest for some people.
Extra virgin olive oil EVOO is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (heart healthy fats), vitamin E, vitamin K, and anti-inflammatory antioxidants.
Apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar balances out the extra virgin olive oil in this salad dressing recipe. Apple cider vinegar is made from fermenting the sugar in apples and turning it into acetic acid.
Maple syrup Maple syrup adds a touch of natural sweetness to this dressing and allows the dressing to be smooth and creamy rather than highly acidic from the apple cider vinegar.
Dijon mustard Dijon mustard is a style of mustard that has a strong flavor, so a little goes a long way in this recipe.
Salt and pepper
How to Make Fall Apple Salad
I start by making the dressing so the flavors have time to meld together. Then, I combine all the ingredients for the Fall Apple Salad in a large bowl. Just before serving, drizzle the salad with the dressing and toss everything together.
Tips for Making Fall Apple Salad
You can use spring greens or baby spinach for this salad. Any kind of apple will work, so just use the kind you have on hand or the kind you normally buy. I prefer toasted pecans, but to save time you can skip toasting them or buy some that are already toasted…the salad tastes great with all of these options. I love the tart, chewiness of the dried cranberries but I think dried cherries would also taste amazing in this salad. To make the salad dressing, I like to pour all the ingredients into a mason jar, put on the lid and shake it until it is creamy and combined.
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