Description
This fresh, vibrant salad is the perfect balance of sweetness, tang, and crunch! With crisp apples, matchstick carrots, and a creamy citrus dressing, this salad is not only refreshing but also bursting with flavor. Whether you serve it as a side dish or enjoy it as a light snack, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
This salad is made with wholesome, fresh ingredients that combine for a delightful mix of textures and flavors:
- Red Apple: Adds sweetness and a beautiful color to the salad.
- Green Apple: Offers a slightly tart flavor that contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the red apple.
- Lemon Juice: Prevents the apples from browning while adding a tangy freshness to the salad.
- Matchstick Carrots: A crunchy and sweet addition, giving the salad a nice crunch.
- Yellow Onion: Adds a bit of sharpness and savory flavor to balance the sweetness of the fruits.
- Dried Cranberries: These sweetened berries provide a chewy texture and a pop of sweetness.
- Vanilla Yogurt: Creamy and slightly sweet, it adds a smooth texture to the dressing.
- Mayonnaise: Helps bind the dressing together, adding a creamy richness.
- Sugar: Sweetens the dressing to balance the tartness from the apples and lemon juice.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the salad.
- Black Pepper: Adds a subtle spice that balances the sweetness and richness.
- Mandarin Segments: Canned mandarin oranges add a burst of citrus flavor and a sweet, juicy element.
(Note: The full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)
Instructions
Here’s how to bring everything together:
- Prepare the Apples: Slice both the red and green apples into matchstick pieces. Place them in a bowl, pour the lemon juice over the apple pieces, and toss well to coat. Let the apples sit for about 5 minutes to absorb the lemon juice, which helps prevent browning.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the matchstick carrots, diced yellow onion, and dried cranberries.
- Add the Apples: After the apples have absorbed the lemon juice, add them to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.
- Make the Dressing: Add the vanilla yogurt, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Stir everything together until well combined and the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Finish with Mandarins: Gently fold in the drained mandarin segments to keep them intact and avoid breaking them up.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together and chill the salad.
Notes
- For a lighter version, you can substitute the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Feel free to add nuts like walnuts or almonds for an extra crunch.
- This salad is best served chilled, so make sure to allow enough time for it to rest in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg