Description
Looking for a refreshing side dish? Try this Apple Cranberry Carrot Salad recipe! Discover a tasty and healthy alternative today.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), cored and diced (about 2 cups)
- 2 cups shredded carrots (about 3–4 medium carrots)
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 4 cups mixed salad greens or arugula
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, lightly toasted
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (optional)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the dressing In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined and slightly emulsified. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Step 2: Toast the nuts Spread the walnuts or pecans in a single layer on a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they become fragrant and slightly darker. Remove from heat immediately to prevent burning and set aside to cool.
- Step 3: Prepare your apples Core and cut the apples into ½-inch cubes. Leave the skin on for added color, nutrition, and texture. Toss the diced apples in a large bowl with 1 tablespoon of the dressing to prevent browning.
- Step 4: Combine ingredients Add shredded carrots, dried cranberries, and sliced red onion to the bowl with the apples. Gently toss these ingredients together with half of the remaining dressing.
- Step 5: Add greens Just before serving, add mixed greens to the bowl and drizzle with the remaining dressing. Gently toss to ensure even coating without bruising the delicate greens.
- Step 6: Serve Sprinkle the toasted nuts and pumpkin seeds over the top of your **Refreshing Apple Cranberry Carrot Salad**. Don’t mix them completely for a more appealing visual texture.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg