Refreshing Apple Cranberry Carrot Salad Recipe
This Refreshing Apple Cranberry Carrot Salad is a crisp and delightful mix of fresh apples, shredded carrots, tangy dried cranberries, and crunchy walnuts, all brought together with a light lemon juice dressing. Perfect as a healthy and flavorful side dish or a quick snack, this salad offers a balance of sweetness, tartness, and texture with every bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10-15 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh apples, diced (about 2 medium Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
- 1 cup dried cranberries (unsweetened or lightly sweetened)
- 1 cup shredded carrots (or 2 medium carrots, shredded)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: honey for extra sweetness
Instructions
- Prepare the produce. Wash the apples and carrots thoroughly. Core and dice the apples into bite-sized pieces. Peel and shred the carrots if using whole ones.
- Combine ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the diced apples, shredded carrots, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts. Toss gently to mix all components evenly.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together freshly squeezed lemon juice with salt and pepper. Add honey if you want a sweeter dressing.
- Toss salad with dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill before serving. Refrigerate the salad for about 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and serve chilled for the best refreshing taste.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
- Adjust the amount of lemon juice and honey based on your personal taste preferences.
- For a crunchier salad, add celery or cucumber slices.
- Keep the salad refrigerated and consume within 1-2 days for optimal freshness.
Keywords: apple salad, cranberry salad, carrot salad, healthy salad, no-cook salad, fresh salad, vegan salad, nutty salad, lemon dressing
