Description
Sweet-tart Honeycrisp apples dance with tangy feta in this refreshing salad, creating a perfect balance of crisp textures and bold flavors. Crisp greens and a zesty vinaigrette invite you to savor each delightful bite of this simple yet sophisticated Mediterranean-inspired dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups mixed greens (arugula, spinach, or a spring mix)
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, thinly sliced
- ½ cup (75 grams / 2.6 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
Nuts and Dried Fruit:
- ⅓ cup (40 grams / 1.4 ounces) toasted walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup (40 grams / 1.4 ounces) dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds
Optional Additional Ingredient:
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
Honey Mustard Vinaigrette:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Craft a zesty vinaigrette by whisking olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small mixing vessel until smooth and well-blended. Taste and fine-tune the seasoning to your preference.
- Select a spacious salad bowl and create a verdant base using crisp mixed greens as the foundation.
- Artfully layer thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples across the greens, ensuring even distribution for visual appeal and balanced flavor.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese generously over the apple slices, creating delightful pockets of tangy richness.
- Scatter toasted walnuts throughout the salad, adding a satisfying crunch and nutty undertone.
- Enhance the salad’s complexity by introducing dried cranberries or vibrant pomegranate seeds for bursts of sweet-tart intensity.
- Optional: Incorporate thinly sliced red onion for a subtle sharp accent that complements the other ingredients.
- Moments before serving, drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, using a gentle tossing motion to ensure each ingredient is lightly coated.
- Serve immediately to preserve the salad’s crisp texture and vibrant flavors, presenting as an elegant side dish or light, refreshing meal.
Notes
- Select crisp, firm Honeycrisp apples at peak ripeness for the best crunch and sweet-tart flavor profile.
- Toast walnuts carefully to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent burning by using low, even heat in a dry skillet.
- Slice red onions paper-thin to prevent overpowering the delicate balance of apple and feta, ensuring a subtle bite.
- Prepare vinaigrette ahead of time and store in the refrigerator to let flavors meld and develop more complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg