{"id":13844,"date":"2020-09-26T14:10:50","date_gmt":"2020-09-26T08:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tashasartisanfoods.com\/blog\/?p=13844"},"modified":"2024-09-28T17:05:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-28T11:35:25","slug":"apple-walnut-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tashasartisanfoods.com\/blog\/apple-walnut-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple Walnut Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Crispy apples, crunchy greens, and smoked Gouda give the apple walnut salad<\/strong> a perfect play of textures. The quinoa salad with apples and cranberries is the ideal fall recipe - delicious, wholesome, and so easy to put together!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fall is here, and the sweltering grip of summer is finally <\/em>ending, which, in my home, means one thing: a lot of munching on crunchy, sweet, and satisfying apples. After baking these delicious gluten-free apple cinnamon waffles<\/a> and chai apple cake<\/a>, I wanted to make something savory with the juicy apples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when I got a fresh batch of organic greens delivered from a local farm, I decided to combine them with apples and create a crispy, creamy, crunchy apple & walnut salad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why We Love This Apple Walnut Salad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Not to toot my own horn, but this salad is absolutely delectable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfect for fall (or any other time of the year).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Made with minimal effort and super quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy without compromising on taste, even one bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delicious balance of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serve it as an appetizer, or bulk it up with cheesy toasts and call it a full meal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Recipe Ingredients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Apples<\/strong> have a boatload of vitamin C (and others) that\u2019s excellent for immunity and a high fiber content for metabolism. Use any apple variety locally available to you. The crispier and firmer they are, the better the salad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walnuts:<\/strong> Coarsely chop them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quinoa<\/strong>: Cook and cool it beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greens: <\/strong>I love the brightness of baby spinach and peppery arugula. You can pick any other fresh green with a bold flavor that stands up to the taste of apples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dried cranberries<\/strong> give the salad with apples and walnuts a pop of color and tangy sweetness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add-ins<\/strong>: pomegranate arils along with creamy, smoky Gouda cheese.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balsamic vinegar<\/td>Extra virgin olive oil<\/td>Dried thyme <\/td><\/tr>
Maple syrup\/honey<\/td>Salt<\/td>Pepper<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.<\/em>
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Variations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Quinoa:<\/strong> You can leave it out and use cooked millet, wild rice, red rice, or even couscous instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cranberries:<\/strong> Apples and raisins are always a lovely pairing and something you can use instead of cranberries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gouda:<\/strong> The mild taste of gouda complements fruits and nuts naturally, but any cheese, I surmise, would work like a charm in this salad with apple and walnuts. Try cheddar, brie, or even a plant-based cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dressing:<\/strong> Switch maple syrup for honey. If you have fresh thyme, use it. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How To Make Apple Walnut Salad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Step 1:<\/strong> Add all the ingredients for the balsamic salad dressing to a small jar. Secure the lid and shake the jar till all ingredients are well combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2:<\/strong> Make a bed of greens on your platter or bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3:<\/strong> Layer cooked, cooled quinoa on top. Toss the quinoa with half the balsamic dressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4:<\/strong> Arrange a layer of thin, juicy apple slices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5:<\/strong> Sprinkle a few crunchy walnuts, some pomegranate arils, and cranberries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Step 6:<\/strong> Finish with a handful of microgreens and rich, musky pieces of smoked gouda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final step:<\/strong> Serve immediately and savor!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Recipe FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do I need to peel the apple for this salad?<\/strong>

It\u2019s totally up to you. I prefer to leave the skin on. In case you have fussy eaters at home, please go ahead and peel them.<\/p> <\/div>

How to stop cut apples from browning?<\/strong>

Apple slices oxidize fast. Sprinkle lemon juice <\/strong>on top to stop them from browning. If you\u2019re prepping the apple and walnut salad ahead of time, then store the cut apple in cold water mixed with a spoonful of lemon juice. Refrigerate them, and when you\u2019re ready to serve, simply pull the slices out.<\/p> <\/div>

How to make balsamic vinegar dressing at home?<\/strong>

Balsamic vinaigrette is a very basic salad dressing. A 2-minute job at the most! I love to keep a jar in my refrigerator so I can dress my salads in a jiffy like I did for my summer pasta salad<\/a>.- In a small jar with a tight lid, add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, and dried thyme.- Add in salt and pepper to taste, and then shake it all.- Pour the dressing on the salad. Store the leftover salad dressing in the refrigerator. <\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Love Salads? Try These Recipes!<\/h2>\n\n\n