Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad
Field greens are tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette with sweet apples, tangy blue cheese, crunchy walnuts, and slightly tart cranberries in this apple walnut cranberry salad.
This salad has a perfect balance of flavors and textures, with the homemade balsamic dressing bringing everything together. It’s perfect for serving guests or family dinners.
🤍Why you will love this recipe
- It’s a quick and easy salad to make.
- It’s a healthy salad recipe that tastes delicious.
Here is what you will need
This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this apple cranberry walnut salad recipe; scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions.
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How to make cranberry apple walnut salad
Prepare the ingredients: Rinse and dry the salad greens, slice or chop apples and walnuts, and crumble the cheese.
If the dressing isn’t prepared, combine the dressing ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon maple syrup.
STEP 1: Place the field greens, apple slices, walnuts and cheese into a large bowl.
STEP 2: Add the salad dressing and toss lettuce, apples, walnuts, cranberries and cheese together.
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Ingredient notes and substitutions
Field greens – This mix of greens is usually a blend of baby lettuces also known as spring mix. These leafy greens have a mild flavor that won’t overpower teh other ingredients.
If you prefer stronger flavored greens, try using baby spinach or arugula. If you prefer more crispy greens, try using romaine lettuce.
Blue cheese – This adds a nice flavor contrast to the salad. Its strong flavor pairs well with the sweetness of the apples.
Blue cheese can be substituted with feta cheese, shaved parmesan cheese, or goat cheese.
Walnuts – Offer a buttery texture with a slight crunch. They can be substituted with pecans, almonds, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
Apples – Various types of apples can be used for this salad. I like to a sweet red apple like gala, fuji, pink lady, or red delicious, while a green apple such as granny smith apple is a good option for those who prefer a more tart apple.
Serving Suggestions
This is one of those favorite salads that makes a delicious side dish to any dinner table. We like it with pasta, beef or chicken.
Serve a light snacky dinner with this salad along with stuffed mushrooms or cottage cheese ranch dip.
Recipe variations
Try exploring different flavors and textures in your cranberry apple salad with these suggestions or create your own.
Whole grains – Add cooked whole grains to the salad such as quinoa, barley or couscous.
Make it a meal – Toss in cooked slices of cooked chicken, steak, shrimp or tofu for extra protein.
Mediterranean Salad – Replace the crisp apples with figs, and use pine nuts and feta cheese.
Asian Fusion Salad – Replace the apples with pears, swap the walnuts with peanuts, and the cranberries with figs or raisins. Toss it in an Asian-inspired dressing.
Additional add-ins – In addition to the ingredients in this salad, try adding any of these for more flavor: sliced red onion, shredded red cabbage, fresh herbs, berries, and candied walnuts or pecans.
How to store leftovers
This salad is best when enjoyed right after it has been made. However, if you do have leftovers, you can store them for a day or two in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
💡Tips
- Wash and dry the green thoroughly to ensure crispness; a salad spinner is great for drying field greens.
- Toss the apples with a little lemon juice before adding them to the salad to prevent them from turning brown.
- To avoid a soggy salad, use dressing sparingly and serve with extra dressing on the side.
It is not recommended to use fresh cranberries to make this salad. Fresh cranberries are slightly sour with a slightly bitter aftertaste.
This salad tastes best after it’s been freshly assembled, but the components can be prepared a few hours ahead of time and stored separately in airtight containers.
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Apple Walnut Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 ounces Field Greens
- 1 Apple Large or 2 small
- 1/4 cup Blue Cheese Crumbled
- 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/4 cup Walnuts Chopped
- Maple Balsamic Dressing (1 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, t tsp maple syrup, 1 tsp dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
Instructions
- Prepare teh ingredients: rinse and dry the greens, chop of slice the apples and walnuts. Crumble the blue cheese. Mix the Maple Balsamic Dressing if it's not already prepared.
- Place 5 ounces Field Greens, 1 Apple, 1/4 cup Blue Cheese, 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries, 1/4 cup Walnuts into a large bowl and gently toss.
- Add the salad dressing; toss and enjoy