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A bright, crisp salad combining diced apples, cranberries, toasted walnuts, and feta cheese on mixed greens, dressed with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Ready in about 15 minutes, serves 4, and perfect as a light main or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups mixed salad greens (spinach, arugula, romaine)
  • 1 diced apple (preferably Honeycrisp or Gala)
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries or 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash and spin-dry the mixed salad greens and place them in a large salad bowl.
  2. Dice the apple into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Toast walnuts in a dry skillet for a few minutes until fragrant.
  4. Roughly chop the toasted walnuts.
  5. Thinly slice the red onion.
  6. Crumble the feta cheese.
  7. Add diced apple, fresh or dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts to the greens.
  8. Sprinkle crumbled feta and sliced red onion over the salad.
  9. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey (optional), salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
  10. Drizzle the dressing over the salad.
  11. Gently toss the salad to coat the greens and toppings evenly.

Notes

Choose crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Gala to add crunch and sweetness., Lightly toast walnuts to enhance flavor and crunch., Mix fresh and dried cranberries for complex texture and taste., Refrigerate the salad for 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors., Add chopped fresh herbs like parsley or mint to brighten flavor., For extra crunch, add pumpkin or sunflower seeds., Consider seasonal ingredient swaps, such as pears, pomegranate seeds, strawberries, or blueberries., Protein additions can include grilled chicken, turkey breast, or chickpeas for vegetarians., Dressing variations can include lemon juice, balsamic vinaigrette, or creamy dressing with yogurt., Store leftovers in an airtight container with a paper towel to absorb moisture., Apples and feta can be added fresh before serving leftovers to prevent sogginess., Salad can be prepped ahead by washing and chopping greens and making dressing separately.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cozyovenkitchen.com/apple-cranberry-walnut-salad-fresh-and-flavorful-dish/