Description
Crisp “Crunchy Apple & Carrot Salad with Creamy Citrus Dressing” promises a delightful blend of fresh produce and zesty flavors. Refreshing ingredients dance together, inviting you to savor each vibrant bite of this simple yet elegant dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Vegetables:
- 1 red apple
- 1 green apple
- 1/2 cup matchstick carrots
- 1/4 yellow onion
- 1/2 cup mandarin segments
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Core and slice red and green apples into delicate, thin strips. Drizzle fresh lemon juice over the apple matchsticks, gently tossing to ensure complete coverage. Allow the apples to marinate for several minutes, preventing oxidation.
- Transfer crisp carrot slivers, finely chopped yellow onion, and tart dried cranberries into a spacious mixing vessel.
- Introduce the lemon-kissed apple strips to the existing mixture, carefully incorporating them throughout the ingredients.
- Craft a velvety dressing by whisking together creamy vanilla yogurt, smooth mayonnaise, a touch of sweetener, nuanced salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Thoroughly blend until the mixture achieves a uniform consistency and thoroughly coats the salad components.
- Tenderly integrate mandarin orange segments, ensuring they remain whole and unbroken during the folding process.
- Seal the salad and refrigerate for a minimum of three hours, allowing the flavors to harmonize and the mixture to reach an optimal chilled temperature before serving.
Notes
- Toss apple slices with lemon juice immediately after cutting to maintain their crisp, fresh appearance and stop oxidation.
- Use a mandoline or sharp knife for uniform, thin matchstick-sized apple and carrot pieces to ensure even coating and consistent crunch.
- Swap sugar with honey or maple syrup for a more natural sweetener, or reduce amount for a less sweet profile that highlights the fruits’ natural flavors.
- Prepare salad up to 24 hours in advance, keeping dressing and fruit separate until serving to maintain maximum crispness and prevent soggy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg