This Apple Cider Salad with apple cider vinaigrette and cinnamon croutons is a feast for the taste buds and a celebration of fall flavors. It’s a refreshing and light dish that perfectly captures the essence of fall.
Use This Fall Staple in Apple Cider Salad
Apple cider is a fall staple, and what better way to incorporate its delightful flavor into your meals than with a refreshing apple cider salad? This salad is a perfect combination of crisp greens, sweet apples, chewy cranberries, fresh parmesan cheese, crunchy walnuts, and tangy apple cider vinaigrette, finished off with a hint of warmth from cinnamon croutons.
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
If there’s one thing that can elevate a simple salad to a gourmet experience, it’s the dressing. And when it comes to dressings, apple cider vinaigrette is a versatile and delicious option. Not only is it flavorful on a salad, but it can also be used as a marinade. For this apple cider vinaigrette, you’ll need apple cider, apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Cinnamon Croutons for Apple Cider Salad
Cinnamon croutons add a delicious and unexpected topping to this apple cider salad. Their warm, comforting flavor pairs perfectly with the tangy sweetness of the apple cider dressing and the crisp, juicy apples in the salad. The combination of flavors and textures creates a delightful eating experience that is the perfect crunchy complement to this salad.
To make the croutons, you’ll need old bread, butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Simply cut the bread into cubes, toss them in melted butter mixed with cinnamon, and cook them until they’re golden and crispy. Then, sprinkle sugar over them and toss them in the warm pan until the sugar is absorbed by the croutons.
Apples and Nuts for Apple Cider Salad
Apples
Add crunch and sweet tanginess to this salad with Granny Smith apples. Cube them, leaving the peel on, for a delicious and healthy addition.
Nuts
Toss a handful of walnuts into this salad to add protein, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, fiber, folate, and iron, to name a few nutrients. Best of all, they provide a crunchy flavor to the salad. However, if you don’t prefer walnuts, add pecans or another favorite nut. Or, you can add a mixture of chopped nuts to suit your taste.
Other Toppings
This salad has dried cranberries, thin slices of red onion, and flavorful Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Shred or shave fresh cheese for the best flavor. You can substitute a high-quality parmesan for the Reggiano.
Whether hosting a gathering or simply treating yourself to a special meal, this salad will impress with its delightful combination of ingredients and flavors. Plus, it’s a great way to make the most of apple cider beyond just sipping it.
Other Apple Cider Recipes You Might Enjoy
Click on each name or photo to link to the recipe.
Apple Cider Salad
Ingredients
- 2-3 cups green leaf lettuce, torn (or mixed baby leaf greens)
- ยผ Granny Smith apple, cubed (or your favorite apple)
- 2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, shredded or shaved
- 1 handful walnuts
- 1 handful cinnamon croutons (see notes for a link to the crouton recipe)
- 1 tablespoon dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon red onion, cut into thin strips (optional)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinaigrette dressing (see notes for a link to the dressing recipe)
Instructions
- Place lettuce in a salad bowl and garnish with the other items.
- Serve with Apple Cider Vinaigrette Salad Dressing.
- To make a large salad to serve 8, use leaves from an entire stalk of green leaf lettuce. Serve buffet-style by putting the toppings in small bowls and letting each person make their salad.