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!
Contemporary apples aren’t only for apple crumble round right here. I really 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… at present’s apple salad recipe is the proper approach to make use of them! This apple walnut salad is nice, savory, crunchy, and filled with the flavors of the season.
We’re speaking crunchy nuts, juicy chopped apples, crispy bacon, and, after all, feta cheese. As a result of feta belongs in ALL salads. Interval.
Issues to Love About This Fall Apple Salad Recipe
- Filled with taste. Every chew brims with the freshness of candy apples, smoky bacon, and tangy feta cheese. The selfmade maple Dijon dressing brings the salad collectively completely.
- A great deal of texture. Walnuts add an additional layer of crunch!
- Simple to arrange. Moreover being tasty, this apple salad is simple to make. There isn’t any sophisticated prep or fancy elements. It’s fast and fundamental, which particularly turns out to be useful throughout the holidays.
Elements in Apple Salad
Be sure you scroll right down to the recipe card for the printable elements listing, quantities, and recipe particulars!
- Bacon – Cooked to your most well-liked crispness and chopped or crumbled. You may 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 really like crunchy child romaine lettuce and child spinach, which each pair nice with the sweetness of the apples. You should utilize a mixture of recent leafy greens, like mesclun, kale, chard, or no matter is obtainable to you.
- Apples – I like to make use of a purple apple selection, like Honeycrisp, for shade. 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 may additionally swap feta cheese for blue cheese, like Roquefort and gorgonzola, or goat cheese.
Maple French dressing Dressing
My maple balsamic dressing is one in all my all-time, must-have, never-fail salad dressings, and it pairs completely with this apple salad. It’s very simple to make with fundamental pantry elements, together with:
- Olive Oil – Select a good-quality additional virgin olive oil for the very best taste. I are likely to lean in the direction of a lighter, fruitier profile for this dressing.
- Balsamic Vinegar – I exploit golden balsamic vinegar. If it’s not obtainable, purple or white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or Champagne vinegar are good substitutes.
- Dijon Mustard – Yellow mustard may even work in a pinch. You too can 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 finest, however for a spicy kick, you may add chili flakes.
The Finest Apples to Add to Salads
When making this apple salad, select a sweet-tart selection, corresponding to Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Woman, Empire, or Granny Smith. A majority of these apples are agency and crunchy, and maintain up nicely when tossed with dressing. The sweetness additionally provides a pleasant distinction to the salty bacon and feta on this recipe.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Positive! Should you don’t eat bacon or want another, prime this salad with diced hen, 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 elements recent and crunchy.
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For the Maple Balsamic French dressing
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Add the elements to a bowl. Mix all salad elements in a big salad bowl; gently toss to mix.
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Make the dressing. Mix all of the salad dressing elements 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 offered as courtesy. Values might range based on the elements 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 elements. 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 at liberty 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 nicely with the present elements. Try my broccoli apple salad for an additional tasty variation.
Make-Forward and Storage Directions
- Every time doable, retailer the salad parts individually. Retailer the dressing, proteins (like bacon), greens, and apples in separate containers to maintain the elements 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.
