Apple Feta Salad

Sick of eating the same old salad over and over for lunch? Then it’s time to spruce things up! This apple feta salad tastes super fresh and is incredibly easy to toss together. It works well as a side salad for dinner or the base salad to go with a grilled protein for lunch. The best part? This recipe has you blending up a homemade Dijon vinaigrette that is out-of-this-world good. It’s time to say goodbye to sad desk salads!

Ingredients for Apple Feta Salad

• Butter and sugar: The walnuts are tossed in butter and seasoned with sugar and pepper, then baked until toasted.
• Walnuts: Walnuts are toasted and added at the end as the crunchy topping that will contrast well with the fresh fruits and vegetables in this apple and feta salad.
• Olive oil and white wine vinegar: This apple and feta cheese salad has a homemade vinaigrette that uses olive oil and white wine vinegar as the base. This is an opportunity to use your favorite high-quality olive oil.
• Dijon mustard: The Dijon adds an extra tang and spice to this dressing that makes it unique and pairs well with the crumbly cheese and fresh produce.
• Garlic cloves and onion: These aromatics are added to the dressing to enhance its flavor.
• Sugar: A little sugar adds a sweetness to the dressing that helps cut into the other tangy ingredients.
• Dried oregano and parsley: These dried herbs give the dressing that little extra something-something for flavor.
• Romaine and red leaf lettuce: These leafy greens are used as the base for the salad.
• Green and red apples: The contrasting combination of sweet and tart apples works well in this salad. If you prefer a sweeter or more tart flavor, feel free to use only red or green apples.
• Feta cheese: Feta adds a creaminess to the other sweet, salty and fresh flavor profiles we have going on in this apple feta cheese salad.

Directions

Step 1: Toast the walnuts

Orly Catz for Taste Recipes

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and pepper. Add the walnuts and toss them to coat, then spread them evenly onto a baking sheet. Bake them until they’re lightly browned, about 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes. Let the walnuts cool on a wire rack.

Step 2: Make the dressing

Orly Catz for Taste Recipes

Place the olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, sugar, oregano, salt, parsley flakes, pepper and chopped onion in a blender. Cover and process until blended.

Step 3: Toss the salad

Orly Catz for Taste Recipes

Place the romaine, red leaf lettuce, green apple, red apple and crumbled feta cheese in a large bowl, and toss them with the dressing. Top the salad with the toasted walnuts and serve immediately.

Orly Catz for Taste Recipes

Apple Feta Salad Variations

• Use a different cheese: Not a fan of feta? Swap it out with another crumbly white cheese, like gorgonzola or goat cheese.
• Swap the greens: This salad is versatile with other leafy greens you have on hand. It works well with kale, arugula, spinach and many more, so feel free to mix and match!
• Add a protein: Want to make this apple feta salad into a full meal? Add grilled chicken or baked salmon to make it a little more hearty and filling for lunch!

How to Store Apple Feta Salad

We highly recommend storing the ingredients for the apple feta salad separately, then tossing them together when it’s time to eat. If you want to toast your walnuts or make the dressing earlier, you can store the nuts in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. For the dressing, store it in an airtight container or a sealed jar in the fridge.

Can you make apple and feta salad ahead of time?

This salad is best fresh, so we don’t recommend tossing together the ingredients until it’s time to eat. While you can get all your ingredients ready beforehand (including the toasted walnuts and blended dressing), wait to toss the salad until you’re ready to sit down for the meal.

Apple Feta Salad Tips

Orly Catz for Taste Recipes

What is the difference between feta and goat cheese in salad?

Both types of cheese work well for this salad, so it depends on preference. Feta cheese tends to go well with fresh fruits and vegetables, while goat cheese pairs nicely with dried fruits and nuts. In this particular salad, you could go either way, so choose the cheese you like best, or the one you have on hand.

What should I serve with apple feta salad?

This salad works well as a side dish, or as the base for a lunch with a grilled protein of your choice. We highly recommend serving it with a filling protein, possibly as a side with this Dutch oven whole chicken or this herb-crusted roast beef for a special meal.

How do I prevent the apples from browning in this salad?

When an apple turns brown, that means it has oxidized. While it’s still safe to eat, it’s not always the most appealing to eat browned fruit. To avoid this in your apple feta salad and keep it looking fresh, you can try this quick hack to keep apples from browning, and all you need is cold water and salt.