Mixed Greens and Apple Bowl (Printable)

Crisp apples, mixed greens, walnuts, and cheese in tangy cider vinaigrette

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, romaine)
02 - 2 medium apples (Gala or Granny Smith), cored and thinly sliced
03 - 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
04 - 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese
05 - 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
06 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries

→ Cider Vinaigrette

07 - 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together apple cider vinegar, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Gradually whisk in extra virgin olive oil until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, apple slices, walnuts, cheese, red onion, and dried cranberries.
03 - Drizzle cider vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to combine and coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can make it on a Tuesday night without the fuss.
  • The tartness of the vinaigrette against the sweetness of the apples creates this balance that just keeps you reaching for another bite.
  • It's sturdy enough to be a meal on its own but elegant enough to serve alongside something fancier.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad until you're ready to eat it—I learned this the hard way when I made it hours ahead and everything turned into a sad, wilted mess.
  • Slice your apples just before assembly, because even with lemon they'll begin to brown if left sitting around, and the presentation matters when a salad looks this fresh.
03 -
  • Keep a small jar of this dressing in your refrigerator and it'll keep for nearly two weeks, making salad assembly almost effortless on busy weeknights.
  • Dress individual portions instead of the whole bowl if you're serving people with different preferences—some want more dressing, others less, and you'll all be happier.
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