Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad Recipe
A crisp and vibrant Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad featuring mixed greens, crunchy toasted nuts, and dried cranberries, all tossed in a tangy honey mustard vinaigrette. This refreshing salad is perfect as a light main course or a festive side dish, balancing sweet, savory, and tart flavors with a satisfying mix of textures.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 4 cups mixed greens (arugula, spinach, or spring mix)
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, thinly sliced
- ½ cup (75g) crumbled feta cheese
- ⅓ cup (40g) toasted walnuts or pecans
- ¼ cup (40g) dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion (optional)
For the Honey Mustard Vinaigrette:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Make the Vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed to balance sweet and tangy flavors.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large salad bowl, layer mixed greens, thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples, crumbled feta cheese, toasted nuts, dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds, and red onion slices if using.
- Dress and Toss: Just before serving, drizzle the honey mustard vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to evenly coat all ingredients without bruising the apples or greens.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve immediately as a refreshing main course or side dish, garnished optionally with fresh herbs such as mint or basil for added fragrance and color.
Notes
- Use Fuji, Pink Lady, or Gala apples as alternatives to Honeycrisp for a similar sweet-tart crunch.
- Add protein like grilled chicken, shrimp, chickpeas, or roasted tofu to make it more filling.
- Switch feta with goat cheese or blue cheese for different flavor profiles.
- Enhance sweetness with maple syrup in the dressing or add additional fruits like sliced grapes or pear.
- For extra crunch, try candied nuts or sprinkle pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- Store components separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; assemble and dress just before serving for best texture.
- Vinaigrette can be refrigerated for up to 1 week; shake well before use.
- This salad is vegetarian; to make vegan, use dairy-free feta and replace honey with maple syrup.
Keywords: Honeycrisp apple salad, feta cheese salad, honey mustard vinaigrette, mixed greens salad, autumn salad, healthy salad, no-cook salad
