This crisp apple arugula salad is tossed with candied walnuts, shaved Pecorino, and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette—perfect as a fresh, flavorful starter or light lunch.
Crisp Apple Arugula Salad with Cider Vinaigrette & Candied Walnuts
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 5 cups baby arugula
- ½ apple like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup candied walnuts recipe below or store-bought
- ¼ cup Pecorino Romano shaved, or Parmesan if you prefer
For the Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
For the Candied Walnuts
- ½ cup walnut halves
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp water
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Candied Walnuts
- In a small skillet over medium heat, combine walnuts, brown sugar, water, and a pinch of salt.
- Stir constantly for 3–4 minutes until the sugar is melted and coats the walnuts.
- Transfer to parchment paper to cool completely before using.
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large bowl, toss arugula with just enough vinaigrette to lightly coat the leaves.
- Add apple slices, candied walnuts, and shaved Pecorino or Parmesan.
- Gently toss and plate. Drizzle with a little more dressing if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 349kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 286mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 1mg
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My wife and I frequent an Italian restaurant here in Fort Collins called RARE Italian. Their apple arugula salad inspired this recipe, which is now our go-to salad. It’s crisp, sweet, salty, nutty, and tangy all in one bowl.
Their salad features toasted almonds, but I prefer to use candied walnuts for an extra pop of sweetness to balance out the bitterness of the arugula. After several rounds of testing, here are a few tips for success:
2 comments
Teilor
This was a delicious salad! My favorite part was the candied walnuts and the cheese on top. I did a finely shredded almost dust of cheese and it’s was so good!
Joseph Kelly
Thanks!