This apple salad recipe has crisp fall apples tossed with smoky bacon, crunchy walnuts, and creamy feta in a sweet-tangy maple French dressing. It’s a splendidly festive salad that’s tremendous easy to make!
Recent apples aren’t only for apple crumble round right here. I like together with fall’s favourite ingredient in the whole lot from salads to apple stuffing!
Can you are feeling fall within the air but? I don’t learn about you, however I’m already dreaming of pumpkin bars and planning our first journey to the apple orchard. Talking of freshly picked apples… as we speak’s apple salad recipe is the proper method to make use of them! This apple walnut salad is nice, savory, crunchy, and full of the flavors of the season.
We’re speaking crunchy nuts, juicy chopped apples, crispy bacon, and, in fact, feta cheese. As a result of feta belongs in ALL salads. Interval.
Issues to Love About This Fall Apple Salad Recipe
- Stuffed with taste. Every chunk brims with the freshness of candy apples, smoky bacon, and tangy feta cheese. The do-it-yourself maple Dijon dressing brings the salad collectively completely.
- A great deal of texture. Walnuts add an additional layer of crunch!
- Straightforward to organize. Apart from being tasty, this apple salad is simple to make. There isn’t any sophisticated prep or fancy substances. It’s fast and primary, which particularly is useful in the course of the holidays.
Elements in Apple Salad
Remember to scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the printable substances checklist, quantities, and recipe particulars!
- Bacon – Cooked to your most well-liked crispness and chopped or crumbled. You might use store-bought bacon crumbles, however I discover bacon tastes WAY higher recent from the skillet or air fryer.
- Salad Greens – Select your favorites. I like crunchy child romaine lettuce and child spinach, which each pair nice with the sweetness of the apples. You need to use a mixture of recent leafy greens, like mesclun, kale, chard, or no matter is out there to you.
- Apples – I like to make use of a crimson apple selection, like Honeycrisp, for coloration. Chop or slice the apples into even-sized items.
- Walnuts – You possibly can swap these for different nuts, like pecans or honey-roasted almonds.
- Feta Cheese – I truly use French feta cheese for this recipe, which is a bit creamier and milder than Greek feta. Each will work on this recipe, although. You might additionally swap feta cheese for blue cheese, like Roquefort and gorgonzola, or goat cheese.
Maple French dressing Dressing
My maple balsamic dressing is certainly one of my all-time, must-have, never-fail salad dressings, and it pairs completely with this apple salad. It’s very simple to make with primary pantry substances, together with:
- Olive Oil – Select a good-quality further virgin olive oil for the very best taste. I are likely to lean in direction of a lighter, fruitier profile for this dressing.
- Balsamic Vinegar – I exploit golden balsamic vinegar. If it’s not obtainable, crimson or white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or Champagne vinegar are good substitutes.
- Dijon Mustard – Yellow mustard can even work in a pinch. You can even stir a small quantity of mayo into the mustard to imitate the creaminess of Dijon.
- Maple Syrup – Nothing says “fall” like actual maple syrup! Be sure that it’s pure and never artificially flavored pancake syrup. Honey would additionally work properly as a substitute.
- Salt and Pepper – Freshly cracked pepper is greatest, however for a spicy kick, you’ll be able to add chili flakes.
The Finest Apples to Add to Salads
When making this apple salad, select a sweet-tart selection, reminiscent of Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Woman, Empire, or Granny Smith. These kinds of apples are agency and crunchy, and maintain up properly when tossed with dressing. The sweetness additionally provides a pleasant distinction to the salty bacon and feta on this recipe.
Often Requested Questions
Certain! Should you don’t eat bacon or want an alternate, prime this salad with diced rooster, steak bites, or crispy roasted chickpeas for a plant-based possibility.
Add the dressing simply earlier than you’re able to eat to keep away from a soggy salad. This retains the substances recent and crunchy.
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For the Maple Balsamic French dressing
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Add the substances to a bowl. Mix all salad substances in a big salad bowl; gently toss to mix.
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Make the dressing. Mix all of the salad dressing substances in a bowl; whisk till completely integrated.
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Toss and serve. Pour the specified quantity of dressing over the salad and gently toss to mix. Serve.
Energy: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 10g | Fats: 29g | Saturated Fats: 8g | Ldl cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 483mg | Potassium: 312mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1105IU | Vitamin C: 7.3mg | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 1.2mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might differ based on the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
How To Make an Apple Walnut Salad
The meeting of this salad is as simple because it will get!
- Mix all of the substances. Add your lettuce, spinach, bacon, apples, walnuts, and feta to a big salad bowl.
- Add the dressing. Whisk collectively the maple French dressing, and toss it gently with the salad to make sure each ingredient is well-coated. Voilà! Your apple salad is able to be served and savored.
Extra Add-in Concepts
A mattress of leafy greens is a clean canvas, so be happy to customise this fall salad with any add-ons you’d like. Slivered or chopped almonds (or spiced nuts), sliced pears, crumbled gorgonzola cheese, inexperienced beans, and even grilled greens mix properly with the prevailing substances. Try my broccoli apple salad for an additional tasty variation.
Make-Forward and Storage Directions
- Every time doable, retailer the salad elements individually. Retailer the dressing, proteins (like bacon), greens, and apples in separate containers to maintain the substances recent.
- Refrigerate leftovers. Place the salad containers within the fridge as quickly as doable. Most salad leftovers within the fridge can final 3-5 days, however the sooner you eat them, the higher they’ll style. Keep away from freezing.