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 every thing from salads to apple stuffing!
Can you’re 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 right means to make use of them! This apple walnut salad is good, 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
- Filled 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. In addition to being tasty, this apple salad is straightforward to make. There isn’t any difficult prep or fancy components. It’s fast and primary, which particularly is useful throughout the holidays.
Components in Apple Salad
You’ll want to scroll right down to the recipe card for the printable components checklist, quantities, and recipe particulars!
- Bacon – Cooked to your most popular crispness and chopped or crumbled. You might use store-bought bacon crumbles, however I discover bacon tastes WAY higher contemporary 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 contemporary leafy greens, like mesclun, kale, chard, or no matter is on the market 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 might additionally swap feta cheese for blue cheese, like Roquefort and gorgonzola, or goat cheese.
Maple French dressing Dressing
My maple balsamic dressing is considered one of my all-time, must-have, never-fail salad dressings, and it pairs completely with this apple salad. It’s very straightforward to make with primary pantry components, together with:
- Olive Oil – Select a good-quality further virgin olive oil for the absolute best taste. I are inclined to lean in the direction of a lighter, fruitier profile for this dressing.
- Balsamic Vinegar – I exploit golden balsamic vinegar. If it’s not accessible, purple or white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or Champagne vinegar are good substitutes.
- Dijon Mustard – Yellow mustard may also work in a pinch. You may also 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 Greatest Apples to Add to Salads
When making this apple salad, select a sweet-tart selection, similar to Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Girl, Empire, or Granny Smith. Some 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
Certain! In case you don’t eat bacon or want an alternate, high this salad with diced hen, steak bites, or crispy roasted chickpeas for a plant-based choice.
Add the dressing simply earlier than you’re able to eat to keep away from a soggy salad. This retains the components contemporary and crunchy.
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For the Maple Balsamic French dressing
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Add the components to a bowl. Mix all salad components in a big salad bowl; gently toss to mix.
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Make the dressing. Mix all of the salad dressing components in a bowl; whisk till completely included.
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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 could differ in keeping with the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
How To Make an Apple Walnut Salad
The meeting of this salad is as straightforward because it will get!
- Mix all of the components. 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 components. Take a look at my broccoli apple salad for an additional tasty variation.
Make-Forward and Storage Directions
- Each time doable, retailer the salad parts individually. Retailer the dressing, proteins (like bacon), greens, and apples in separate containers to maintain the components contemporary.
- 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.
