10-Minute Apple Walnut Salad (2024)

This apple walnut salad brings together the best of the fall harvest season! It showcases crisp apples, toasted walnuts, tangy dried cranberries, and creamy feta. Pair it with a quick and easy balsamic vinaigrette for a fresh side dish that’s bursting with vibrant flavors.

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Great for the holidays: This apple walnut salad is light and refreshing, making it the perfect dish to balance hearty and filling mains.
• Health in a bowl: With fresh greens, apples, walnuts, and extra-virgin olive oil, each bowl is packed with nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, and healthy fats.
• 10-minute prep: This gourmet-tasting salad can be thrown together in just 10 minutes! It’s simple enough to make on busy weeknights.
• Homemade dressing: The homemade balsamic vinaigrette is incredibly easy to whip together, but makes such a difference in the overall flavor.

If you love apple walnut salad, you should really check out our vegan kale Caesar salad, tomato cucumber salad, harvest bowl, and vegan chickpea salad.

🍏 Refreshing apple walnut salad

If we could only eat one salad for the rest of our days, it would be this apple and walnut salad! It features a blend of crunchy walnuts, fresh apple slices, and vibrant mixed greens, all tied together with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

The sweetness of the apples complements the rich, toasty walnuts unbelievably well. Red onions offer a sharp contrast, while dried cranberries lend a pop of color and a chewy tartness. And the vegan feta adds a creamy texture, creating the perfect salad combination.

This stunning dish will be the star of any holiday table, but it’s also simple enough to throw together for busy weeknight dinners. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply making a meal for one, this apple walnut salad promises to be a crowd-pleaser.

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Walnuts: Provide an earthy crunch and toasty flavor. If you prefer, you can substitute the walnuts with pecans or slivered almonds. For a nut-free option, use pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
• Greens: We like to use mixed greens for different flavors and textures, but spinach, arugula, endive, green, red, or butter lettuce all make great alternatives.
• Red onion: Adds a sharp, savory taste and a pop of color. For a milder onion flavor, try using shallots instead.
• Apples: We love the tang of Granny Smith apples, but feel free to use any apple you have on hand! Other top choices include Honeycrisp, Fuji, Jazz, or even pears.
• Vegan feta cheese: You can use store-bought or homemade vegan feta cheese. If you don’t have any vegan feta available, try nutritional yeast instead.
• Dried cranberries: Impart a tart taste and chewy texture. For a different flavor, you can opt for dried cherries or blueberries.
• Balsamic vinegar: Use the highest quality balsamic vinegar you can afford. It makes a huge difference in overall flavor.
• Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is our go-to sweetener of choice for the dressing, but agave will also work.
• Dijon mustard: Adds a slight kick and helps emulsify the vinaigrette. You can also use vegan mayo or tahini if you’re sensitive to spice.
• Garlic: Use a fresh garlic clove for the best taste. Garlic powder will work in a pinch, but it doesn’t provide the same zestiness as fresh garlic.
• Dried oregano: You can also use Italian seasoning, basil, thyme, or any other dried herbs you have lying around.
• Salt & pepper: To balance the tanginess and sweetness of the dressing. We suggest sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
• Olive oil: Make sure to use extra-virgin olive oil for your vinaigrette!

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make apple walnut salad

Step 1: Toast the walnuts

Toast your walnuts at 350F until lightly browned and fragrant. Toasting enhances the walnut’s flavor, but we suggest monitoring them closely as they can burn quickly!

Step 2: Prepare the salad base

While the walnuts cool, layer the salad components. In a large serving bowl, add the mixed greens followed by the apple slices, onion slices, feta, and dried cranberries. For an extra vibrant flavor, try making your own Craisins recipe.

Remember to keep your vegan feta refrigerated until just before crumbling as it can soften too much on the countertop. When the walnuts have cooled, add them as well.

Step 3: Whisk the dressing

In a small container, add the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour in the olive oil while whisking constantly.

Make sure the olive oil is poured slowly to get a well-emulsified dressing. Mason jars are perfect for this — shake it up and watch the magic happen!

Step 3: Assemble the salad

Drizzle your apple and walnut salad with the balsamic vinaigrette and serve immediately. You can also serve the dressing on an individual basis. Happy eating!

If you have questions about this apple walnut salad recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🍗 What to serve with apple walnut salad

This apple walnut salad makes the perfect side dish for so many mains! Try serving it with some of these options:

• Vegan sweet potato soup
• Cauliflower steaks
• Vegan chicken
• Vegan pot pie
• Vegan meatballs
• Vegan meatloaf
• Chickpea soup
• Lentil bolognese

You can also pair it with other side dishes like vegan garlic bread, dairy-free bread, air fryer Brussels sprouts, balsamic glaze Brussels sprouts, and air fryer eggplant.

🌡️ Storage

Like all leafy green salads, this salad with apples and walnuts is best enjoyed fresh. However, if you have leftovers, here’s what to do:

• Fridge: You can keep the undressed apple walnut salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days, but it’s best to keep all the ingredients separate if possible.
• Freezer: We don’t suggest freezing salad as it will essentially turn into mush once it’s thawed.
• Prep ahead: You can chop the topping ingredients and mix the dressing, then store everything separately in the fridge and combine when you’re ready to serve.

♻️ Variations

• Berries: Incorporate some fresh raspberries or strawberries into your apple cranberry walnut salad for a more summery vibe.
• Mediterranean: Add olives and sun-dried tomatoes and use a lemon vinaigrette.
• Wintery: Throw on some roasted butternut squash cubes and use massaged kale.
• Creamy: Add avocado slices for added healthy fats and a buttery texture.
• Fresh citrus: Include orange segments instead of apple slices.
• Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a slight kick!

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Prevent browning: If you’re slicing the apples ahead of time, you can toss them in a touch of lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Soak the onions: If the onions are too pungent for your liking, soak the slices in cold water for a few minutes to mellow their sharpness.
• Toast the nuts: Toasting nuts brings out their natural oils and enhances their flavor. We don’t recommend skipping this step!
• Toss just before serving: Always toss your apple walnut salad with dressing just before you’re ready to serve it to prevent a soggy lettuce texture.
• Use a variety of ingredients: Mix and match ingredients based on what’s seasonal.
• Chill the salad: For a refreshing taste, chill the salad for 30 minutes before serving.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More salad recipes

If you enjoyed this apple cranberry walnut salad, dig into some more nutritious and delicious salads like these:

• Couscous Salad: Tender couscous infused with Mediterranean flavors.
• Sweet Potato Salad: Roasted sweet potatoes and fresh veggies combined with a zesty lime vinaigrette.
• Vegan Pasta Salad: Packed with a medley of flavors, textures, and colors.
• Vegan Potato Salad: Tossed with crunchy mix-ins and a spicy, tangy, and creamy sauce.
• Vegan Macaroni Salad: Ready in less than 30 minutes!