Description
Apple Almond Crunch Salad combines fresh apples, toasted almonds, and tangy vinaigrette with greens, making it a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunchy elements. It’s quick to make, versatile, and ideal for any meal.
Ingredients
- 4 cups mixed greens (such as spinach, arugula, or baby kale)
2 medium apples (such as Gala or Honeycrisp), cored and sliced
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)
1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
For the dressing:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Toast the almonds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the sliced almonds for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and fragrant. Be careful not to burn them. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar (or balsamic vinegar), honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced apples, toasted almonds, dried cranberries (if using), and crumbled cheese (if using). Add the thinly sliced red onion for extra flavor if desired.
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, making sure everything is coated with the vinaigrette.
- Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- To prevent apples from browning, toss them with a small amount of lemon juice before adding them to the salad.
- If you prefer, substitute the apple cider vinegar with balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar for a different flavor profile.
- For a vegan version, use maple syrup for the dressing and skip the cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
