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Simple Apple Salad with a Honey Vinaigrette and Cheese

ByMarina Rizhkov Posted onDecember 5, 2020October 6, 2023 Updated onOctober 6, 2023

This delicious Apple Salad with a Honey Vinaigrette is the perfect healthy fall treat. Sweet and full of texture, this salad is nourishing to it’s core.

apple chopped with chopped green lettuce shredded cheese and pecans in a white bowl on white towel.

Table of Contents

Why This Simple Apple Salad with Honey Vinaigrette is SO Good

I don’t know about you, but seasonal transitions always motivate me. I clean, I organize, and I want to eat healthier! Thankfully, when you eat seasonally it’s pretty easy to eat on the healthier side, and fall provides plenty of delicious options! However, one of fall’s universally agreed-upon best options is what we’re featuring in our salad today – apples!

They’re nature’s candy and they’re so incredibly versatile! You can incorporate them into your diet in a variety of ways, but you can start by making this simple apple salad with a sweet and tangy honey vinaigrette.

Not only is this salad great on the tastebuds, but the health benefits can’t be denied! Apples have been known to improve eyesight and build stronger bones, among many other things, and honey has its benefits too! Surprisingly, it can help prevent infections, and treat colds and coughs. Then if you top your salad with pecans, you’re enriching your body with Vitamin E and supporting your brain health.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t see a downside here. This salad is bursting with flavor, texture, and healthy choices – so let’s go shopping!

Key Ingredients

Romaine Lettuce

Romaine fills you with calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A, and it’s my number-one choice for this salad due to its crisp nature. If you need a substitute, you can use butter lettuce, kale, or arugula.

Gala Apples

I suggest using gala apples which supply you with prebiotics and support your heart. If you can’t find gala, you can go for a honey crisp or golden delicious.

Goat Cheese

This creamy cheese contains calcium, which supports bone health. Feta is a good substitute, but keep in mind that it’s not as creamy and it has more of a salty flavor. I’ll alter the salad’s intended flavor, but it’ll still be good!

Along with those ingredients, you will need candied pecans, red wine vinegar, honey, extra virgin olive oil, and salt and pepper.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make This Tasty Apple Salad

Step 1: Prepare Lettuce

Wash and chop your romaine lettuce into shredded pieces.

Step 2: Chop Apple

Chop your apple into small bite-sized pieces, leaving the skin on, and add them to the lettuce.

chopped lettuce and an apple on a wooden board with wooden knife.

Step 3: Add Toppings

Chop your candied pecans (I got mine at Trader Joe’s!), and add the pecans and grated/crumbled goat cheese on top of the apples.

chopped pecans on a wooden board with wooden knife and mixed apple salad with green lettuce.

Step 4: Make Honey Vinaigrette

Whisk together your red wine vinegar, honey, extra virgin olive oil, and salt and pepper until the mixture is combined. Drizzle it on top of your salad and enjoy!

white wine vinegar dressing mix in a white bowl with whisk on the side salt and pepper.

Recipe FAQs

What is the best apple for salads?

When enjoying apples in salads, you’ll want a very crunchy apple! Something like Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji would work. Then you can complement the individual flavor of your apple choice with additional toppings and dressing.

Is romaine lettuce better for you than iceberg?

Romaine is definitely more nutritious than iceberg. While romaine still has a high water content, it contains significantly more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than iceberg lettuce.

What is a vinaigrette dressing made of?

Every vinaigrette is made of two basic ingredients: Olive oil and vinegar. That in itself is delicious, but the fun is when you make additions that suit your flavor preferences! In this recipe, we use red wine vinegar because it’s a tad sweeter, and add a bit of honey for the ultimate creamy and sweet dressing!

apple salad mixed with pecans green lettuce in a white bowl on white towel.

Additional Apple Recipes

Try this Apple, Spinach, and Avocado Salad with Sweet Lemon Vinaigrette for a citrus twist on your salad!
Celery and Apple Salad with Almonds and Dates is crunch and filling!
A classic Apple and Banana Smoothie with Cinnamon is nutritious and tasty.
This Apple Sharlotka Recipe is the Russian version of an apple pound cake!
Apple Jam – enough said!

Other Tasty Apple Recipes To Try

If you tried this Apple Salad with a Honey Vinaigrette or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

Marina Rizhkov

I’m Marina, a Mother, Culinary Nutrition Expert, and Blogger. I am so glad you took the time to stop by and treat yourself to some of my recipes. My goal is to give you the knowledge and courage to get out of your comfort cooking zone and cook from scratch! You’ll find a bunch of pictures, nutritional information, and step-by-step instructions to help you achieve tasty homemade meals.