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. Crisp apples in a zesty sauce with raisins and nuts make a flavorful combination that goes well with any pork dish, roast turkey, and grilled meats.

December 26, 2021

apple saladin a bowl

Refreshing 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 ingredients are generally available in the kitchen. Bonus – you can add any leftovers to your oatmeal the next day. 

Why I Love This Recipe

  • Can make several hours ahead and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve 
  • Ingredients are usually on hand
  • Fast, easy, tasty, and kid-friendly
  • Use leftovers in oatmeal the next day
  • Good source of fiber, Vitamin C and E, and Riboflavin

Recipe Tips

apple salad ingredients on a cutting board
1

Simple ingredients make this refreshing salad.

Toasing almonds in a skillet
2

Toast slivered almonds in a non-stick pan or cast-iron skillet.

Cutting apples
3

Choose medium-size apples that fit inside the apple corer/slicer.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Apples – look for apples in the small-medium size because they cut easier in the corer slicer. Gala apples are a winner because they don’t brown as fast as other apples or Honeycrisp because of their sweet and tart flavor. Small Granny Smith apples are also a good option because of their green color. Read 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, and any fat content you prefer. I like full fat (made from whole milk) because it is processed less than skim or fat-free varieties. 

Fresh lemon is the best since you can zest the peel and benefit from the flavor boost; however, bottled lemon juice is a substitute.

Dried Fruit – use brown or golden raisins, dried cranberries, or dried cherries.

Celery adds a nice crunch. 

Spice – Cinnamon is great with apples, and add a little pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg if desired.

Nuts – chopped walnuts or pecans, or slivered almonds all taste great. If using slivered almonds, I advise toasting them to bring out the flavor.

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apple saladin a bowl

Crisp Apple Salad with Lemon Yogurt Sauce


Description

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.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Yogurt Sauce 

  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1 lemon, juiced-divided
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries, cherries, or golden raisins
  • 1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt*
  • 23 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

  1. Prep Ingredients. Zest the lemon. Cut the lemon in half and juice. Place half the lemon juice in a small bowl with dried fruit to plump them. Preheat dry nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat on the stovetop. Toast nuts in the pan until slightly browned and fragrant, about 3 – 5 minutes.  Allow nuts to cool. Core and dice apples. Dice celery.
  2. Combine Yogurt Sauce. Stir yogurt, honey, remaining lemon juice, lemon zest, and spices in a serving bowl.
  3. 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.
  4. Garnish. Top salad with reserved nuts and a few dashes of cinnamon sprinkled on top. Serve cold.

Notes

*The plain, unsweetened yogurt can be cow or plant-based. You can use homemade, Greek, or standard, 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. Mediterranean diet – use whole milk yogurt; SCD – use homemade yogurt.

  • Prep Time: 20
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: chopping
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Rosh Hashanah Recipe

Let me know your thoughts on this post!

2 responses to “Crisp Apple Salad with Lemon Yogurt Sauce”

  1. 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!

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Karen The Supper Sanity Chef

Welcome to Supper Sanity

Hello, I’m Karen, a very passionate meal planner. As a mother of three, I have been planning family menus for years. When I was diagnosed with a digestive condition, I found it necessary to follow an eating regime that eliminated many ingredients. That made meal planning a health necessity. I’ve learned a lot and want to share my resources to simplify meal planning, shop efficiently and cook affordable homemade meals. If you wish to try new recipes, plan healthier meals, and enjoy a great dinner with your friends and family, Supper Sanity can help.

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