Crunchy Apple Carrot Salad (Printable)
Julienned apples, carrots, celery, nuts and dried fruit tossed in a creamy citrus yogurt dressing — bright and crunchy.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad
01 - 2 medium apples, cored and cut into matchsticks (preferably Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
03 - 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
05 - 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ Creamy Citrus Dressing
07 - 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt or plant-based alternative
08 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
# Directions:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, toss together apples, carrots, celery, walnuts, dried fruit, and parsley until evenly distributed.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, orange juice, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to ensure every component is evenly coated.
04 - Transfer the salad to a serving bowl or platter. Garnish with additional walnuts and parsley if desired. Serve immediately for maximum crispness, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This salad stays crisp and creamy even if you make it a little ahead for guests.
- The zingy citrus dressing lifts everything and makes the simple vegetables taste extraordinary.
02 -
- If you skip tossing apples in citrus juice they’ll brown disappointingly fast.
- Toasting the nuts before adding changes their flavor from basic to bakery-good.
03 -
- Taste the dressing before tossing with salad—every batch of citrus can be different in sweetness.
- Chill your salad bowl if you want that just-picked crunch to last even longer.