Description
This Apple Arugula Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing is a fresh, vibrant, and healthy dish combining peppery arugula, crisp sweet apples, creamy goat cheese, crunchy toasted nuts, and tangy dried cranberries. Tossed in a lightly sweet and tangy honey balsamic vinaigrette, it makes a perfect quick and easy vegetarian salad ideal for any season, especially fall.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 5 cups fresh arugula
- 2 crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji), thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced red onion
Honey Balsamic Dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is well combined and emulsified.
- Combine the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the fresh arugula, thinly sliced apples, crumbled goat cheese, toasted pecans or walnuts, dried cranberries, and thinly sliced red onion.
- Toss the salad: Drizzle the prepared honey balsamic dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss everything together until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve immediately: For the best flavor and texture, serve the salad right away to maintain the crispness of the apples and arugula.
Notes
- For a vegan version, omit the goat cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Pears can be used instead of apples for a different flavor profile.
- To prevent apples from browning, toss the slices in a little lemon juice before adding them to the salad.
