Ingredients
– 6 cups salad greens (a mix of arugula and baby spinach or any spring mix)
– 1 red apple
– 1 green apple
– 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
– 4-6 cooked and chopped bacon strips (optional)
– 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
– 1/3 cup dried cranberries
– 1 cup apple juice for dressing
– 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (white vinegar as substitute) for dressing
– 2 tablespoons honey for dressing
– 1/2 teaspoon salt for dressing
– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper for dressing
– 1/4 cup olive oil for dressing
– 1 cup walnut halves for candied walnuts (optional)
– 1 tablespoon butter for candied walnuts (optional)
– 1/4 cup sugar for candied walnuts (optional)
– 1/4 teaspoon salt for candied walnuts (optional)
– 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon for candied walnuts (optional)
Instructions
1-Gather Your Ingredients: First, start by prepping your apples. Core and chop 1 red apple and 1 green apple into thin slices or one-inch chunks. This step keeps the fruit fresh and ready to mix in.
2-Gather Your Ingredients: Next, measure out 6 cups of salad greens and place them in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of roughly chopped walnuts, 1/3 cup of dried cranberries, and 1/3 cup of crumbled feta cheese. If you want, include 4-6 cooked and chopped bacon strips for extra flavor.
3-Gather Your Ingredients: Take a moment to toast the walnuts if you like. This adds a deeper taste and makes the salad even better.
4-Make the Dressing: Now, whisk together the dressing in a small bowl. Combine 1 cup of apple juice, 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1/4 cup of olive oil. Shake it in a jar for easy mixing.
5-Make the Dressing: This dressing brings everything together with its sweet and tangy vibe. Taste it and adjust as needed before adding it to the salad.
6-Assemble and Toss: Toss the greens, apples, walnuts, cranberries, feta, and bacon in the large bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the top just before serving to keep it crisp.
7-Assemble and Toss: For candied walnuts, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and 1/4 cup of sugar in a pan. Stir in 1 cup of walnut halves, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon until coated, then spread on a baking sheet to cool for 5-10 minutes.
8-Serve and Store: Serve the salad right away for the best texture. If you have leftovers, store the salad and dressing separately in the fridge for up to 3 days.
9-Serve and Store: Remember to toss apples in lemon juice to prevent browning. This keeps your salad looking fresh and appetizing.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
๐ Toss apples in lemon juice to prevent browning.
๐ง Store leftover salad and dressing separately in the fridge for up to 3 days, or combine for up to one day.
๐ฐ Substitute walnuts with pecans or use different cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, or goat cheese if preferred.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad bowl
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 283 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 4 mg
