Description
Crisp green apples dance with creamy blue cheese in this delightful Apple Salad that balances sweet and tangy flavors. Candied walnuts and fresh greens complete this elegant dish, inviting you to savor each refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits:
- 4 Honeycrisp apples, cubed
- 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 lemon, juiced
Vegetables and Nuts:
- 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Slice Honeycrisp apples into uniform cubes, immediately drizzling with fresh lemon juice to prevent discoloration and enhance the fruit’s vibrant flavor profile.
- Craft a velvety dressing by whisking mayonnaise and brown sugar in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a rich, sweet foundation for the salad.
- Introduce crisp celery, halved grapes, crunchy pecans, and tart dried cranberries into the dressing-coated bowl, gently folding ingredients to ensure complete and even coverage.
- Refrigerate the assembled salad for a minimum of 30 minutes at 40°F, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and develop a more complex taste, transforming the simple mixture into a refreshing culinary experience.
Notes
- Prevent Apple Browning: Use lemon juice immediately after cutting to maintain fresh, crisp appearance and add bright citrus undertone.
- Customize Sweetness Level: Adjust brown sugar quantity based on apple tartness and personal preference for balanced flavor profile.
- Make Ahead Friendly: Prepare salad up to 4 hours before serving, keeping it refrigerated to enhance flavor complexity and maintain texture.
- Dietary Adaptations: Substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for lighter version or use vegan mayo for plant-based alternative without compromising creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg