Description
The Crispy Apple Cranberry Delight is a splendid salad that perfectly balances the sweetness of honeycrisp apples with the tartness of dried cranberries, rounded out by the crunchiness of candied pecans and the luxurious taste of blue cheese. Ideal for lunch, dinner, or even as a festive side dish, this salad shines in both flavor and presentation, making it a hit for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups of butter lettuce, romaine or your favorite greens
- 1 cup diced honeycrisp apples (approximately 1 medium apple; substitutes: Fuji, Gala, Braeburn)
- ¾ cup orange-flavored dried cranberries (alternative: regular dried cranberries)
- ¾ cup candied Fisher pecans
- ¾ cup blue cheese crumbles (alternatives: gorgonzola or feta cheese)
- Dressing:
- ½ cup orange-flavored dried cranberries (alternative: regular dried cranberries)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 to 4 tablespoons honey
- 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Base
- In a large bowl, lay the lettuce as a bed. Evenly distribute the diced apples, cranberries, candied pecans, and blue cheese crumbles over the lettuce.
- Making the Dressing
- Place all the dressing ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for about 30 seconds or until the mixture is fairly smooth but with some cranberry texture remaining. Adjust the amount of honey depending on your preferred sweetness.
- Finalize the Salad
- Taste the dressing and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss lightly to combine all the ingredients. Serve immediately to maintain the freshness and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes