Description
A refreshing and vibrant Apple Arugula Salad combining peppery fresh arugula with crisp apple slices, creamy goat cheese, crunchy toasted nuts, and sweet dried cranberries, all tossed in a tangy honey-Dijon vinaigrette. Perfect for a light lunch or as a beautiful side salad, this no-cook recipe is quick to prepare and packed with fresh flavors and textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh arugula
- 1 large crisp apple (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or pecans
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until the mixture is emulsified and smooth, creating a balanced, tangy, and slightly sweet vinaigrette.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large salad bowl, add the fresh arugula, then gently fold in the thinly sliced apple, crumbled goat cheese, toasted walnuts or pecans, and dried cranberries, ensuring even distribution of flavors and textures throughout the salad.
- Toss the salad: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients, and toss gently but thoroughly to coat everything evenly without bruising the delicate arugula leaves or breaking the apple slices.
- Serve immediately: For the best texture and flavor, serve the salad right away. The crispness of the apples and arugula combined with the creamy cheese and crunchy nuts will be at their peak.
Notes
- To prevent the apples from browning, toss them in a little lemon juice before adding to the salad.
- You can swap the nuts for your preferred choice, such as almonds or pecans, and the cheese for feta or a vegan alternative to suit your taste.
- This salad pairs beautifully as a side dish with roasted chicken or alongside a light pasta for a well-rounded meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of salad
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
