Description
Apple Crunch Salad is a refreshing and nutritious no-cook dish combining crisp apples, crunchy nuts, juicy grapes, and a creamy honey-lemon yogurt dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or side dish, this salad offers a delightful mix of sweet and tart flavors with a satisfying crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 3 medium-sized apples, cored and diced (preferably a mix of sweet and tart apples like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith)
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the fruits and vegetables: Thoroughly wash the apples and grapes. Core and dice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Halve the grapes and set aside.
- Prepare the nuts and celery: Dice the celery into small pieces and roughly chop the walnuts or pecans. If desired, toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes to enhance flavor.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss together the diced apples, celery, halved grapes, chopped nuts, dried cranberries or raisins, and shredded carrots, taking care not to bruise the fruit.
- Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, and lemon juice until smooth and well combined.
- Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the mixed salad ingredients and gently fold to evenly coat all components with the dressing.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, starting with a pinch of salt and a few cracks of black pepper, then adjust according to preference.
- Chill and meld flavors: Cover the salad with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
- Serve: Serve chilled as a refreshing side dish or light lunch. Optionally, garnish with additional nuts or dried fruit for extra texture.
Notes
- Toasting the nuts enhances their flavor and adds crunch.
- Use a mix of sweet and tart apples for balanced flavor.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute Greek yogurt and mayonnaise with suitable plant-based alternatives.
- Adjust sweetness by modifying honey amount to taste.
- Leftovers can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 days, but apples may brown over time.
