Description
Crisp apple salad brings together sweet and tangy flavors for a refreshing culinary journey. Crunchy apples, zesty dressing, and surprising ingredients create a delightful dish you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 Honeycrisp apples, cubed
- 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
- 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
Nuts and Dried Fruits:
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Peel and core the crisp apples, then dice them into uniform bite-sized cubes, immediately drizzling fresh lemon juice over the pieces to preserve their vibrant color and prevent oxidation.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, vigorously whisk the creamy mayonnaise with rich brown sugar until the mixture transforms into a smooth, glossy dressing with a harmonious sweet-tangy profile.
- Introduce the diced apples, finely chopped crisp celery, whole juicy grapes, toasted crunchy pecans, and tart dried cranberries into the dressing-coated bowl.
- Gently fold and toss all ingredients using a silicone spatula, ensuring each morsel is thoroughly and evenly enrobed with the luscious dressing.
- Seal the salad with a tight-fitting lid or protective wrap, then nestle it in the refrigerator’s cool embrace for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the complex flavors to intertwine and develop a more refined taste experience.
- Prior to serving, give the salad a final gentle stir to redistribute the dressing and reinvigorate the ingredients, presenting a chilled, vibrant, and texturally dynamic dish.
Notes
- Prevent apple browning quickly by using fresh lemon juice, which helps maintain their crisp white color and adds a slight tangy flavor.
- Customize the salad by swapping pecans with walnuts or almonds for different texture and nutritional profiles, perfect for nut lovers or those with specific dietary preferences.
- Enhance the salad’s freshness by chopping ingredients just before mixing to maintain maximum crunch and prevent soggy textures during chilling.
- Make the dish lighter by substituting mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, reducing calories while maintaining a creamy consistency and adding extra protein.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg