Refreshing Quick Salad
This refreshing Crisp Apple Salad with Lemon Yogurt is a staple in our house—crunchy, bright, sweet, tart, and colorful. It enhances any pork dish or grilled meat, and the ingredients are generally available in the kitchen. Bonus: You can add any leftovers to your oatmeal the next day!
Why I Love This Crisp Apple Salad Recipe
- You can make this recipe several hours ahead and place it in the refrigerator until ready to serve
- Fast & easy – other than toasting the nuts, no cooking is required
- Ingredients are usually on hand
- Tasty and kid-friendly
- Good source of fiber – 20 %
- Protein 8 grams
- Gluten-Free
- Uses zest, which is one of my favorite ingredients, to punch up the flavor and make a dish stand out. A zester is one of the most valuable tools in my kitchen!
- Watch this video about how to use a citrus zester.
Equipment Needed
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Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- Apples—Look for apples in the small to medium size because they cut more easily with the corer slicer. Gala apples are a winner because they don’t brown as fast as other apples. Honeycrisp apples are great options; they are known for their sweet and tart flavor. Small Granny Smith apples are also a good choice because they add another color and offer some tartness. Read the Whole Foods Apple guide for purchasing and ingredient tips.
- Yogurt—unsweetened, plain from cow or plant—works best in this recipe. The yogurt can be homemade, Greek, or standard; you can choose any fat content. I like full-fat (made from whole milk) yogurt because it is processed less than skim or fat-free varieties.
- Fresh lemons offer the best flavor benefits by infusing the salad with fresh juice and the zest, which adds concentrated bright citrus; however, bottled lemon juice is a suitable substitute.
- Dried Fruit – use brown or golden raisins, dried cranberries, or cherries.
- Celery adds a nice crunch.
- Spice – Cinnamon is great with apples, and add a little pumpkin or apple pie spice or nutmeg if desired.
- Nuts: Chopped walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds all taste great.
Recipe Tips
1
Simple ingredients make this refreshing salad.
2
Toast slivered almonds in a non-stick pan or cast-iron skillet.
3
Choose medium-size apples that fit inside the apple corer/slicer.
Serve With
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Crisp Apple Salad with Lemon Yogurt Sauce
This sweet and tangy Apple Salad with Lemon Yogurt Sauce recipe is easy to throw together for a weeknight side dish and great for a special occasion. Crisp apples in a zesty sauce with raisins and nuts make a flavorful combination with any pork dish, roast turkey, and grilled meats.
- Prep Time: 20
- Total Time: 20
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: chopping
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Yogurt Sauce
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 lemon, juiced-divided
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, cherries, or golden raisins
- 1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt*
- 2–3 Tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, optional
Salad
- 4 Gala or Honeycrisp apples, medium size
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped unsalted walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients. Zest the lemon. Cut the lemon in half and juice it. Place half the lemon juice in a small bowl with the dried fruit to plump them. Preheat a nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat on the stovetop (no oil needed). Toast nuts in the pan until slightly browned and fragrant, about 3 – 5 minutes. Allow nuts to cool. Core and dice apples. Dice celery.
- Combine Yogurt Sauce. Stir yogurt, honey, remaining lemon juice, lemon zest, and spices in a serving bowl.
- Add Salad Ingredients. Add celery, apple pieces, and half the nuts to the yogurt sauce and mix until combined. Add dried fruit with lemon juice.
- Garnish. Top salad with reserved nuts and a few dashes of cinnamon sprinkled on top. Serve cold.
Notes
*Plain, unsweetened yogurt can be cow—or plant-based. You can use homemade, Greek, or standard yogurt, with the fat content you prefer. I like yogurt made from whole milk because it is generally processed less than skim or fat-free varieties. For the Mediterranean diet, use whole milk yogurt; for SCD, use homemade yogurt. For a detox meal, sweeten coconut or plant-based yogurt with dates soaked and pureed in the food processor.
2 responses to “Crisp Apple Salad with Lemon Yogurt Sauce”
I have been making Karen’s apple salad for years. Everyone always loves it. It is so easy and I usually have the ingredients on hand. It packs a lot of different flavors and textures. Love the crispness!
awe, thank you. I am honored to offer a recipe that your family loves!