Apple Goat Cheese Walnut Salad

Light and delicious salad for hot summer temps

Crisp Apples, creamy goat cheese, candied walnuts come together with in this light delicious summer salad. An easy lunch or dinner recipe-add protein for some added fuel to satisfy.

This APPLE GOAT CHEESE WALNUT SALAD is one of my absolute favorite summer salads. It has crisp thinly sliced apples, creamy goat cheese and heart healthy candied walnuts.

EASY SUMMER SALADS

Follow me for my Summer Salad Series!! I have to share, about 2 years ago, if anyone asked me if I ate salads, I would have answered an emphatic “NO!” I hated salads. But November 2022, I decided that I wanted to eath healthier, so for 30 days I made a homemade salad for lunch. And now, I can’t go a week without enjoying one of my delicious salads-and the best part? My entire family of picky teenage boys love my salads, too! It just happened to be I was eating the wrong type of salads for my personal taste. So if you are anything like me, give yourself a break and take your time finding what are your likes and dislikes when it comes to healthy eating. There are hundreds of salad combinations, that I am sure you will find one that suits you perfectly.

Make one of my favorites- This apple. goat cheese, walnut salad is perfect for those hot weekends when you do not feel like cooking! When it is too hot to even grill out and everyone is a little grumpy because they are hot and hangry, this quick and easy healthy salad will fill up those empty bellies, and cool you from the inside-out. Adding crispy bacon or salty prosciuto takes this salad up a notch. Get creative, add dried cranberries, chicken or pecans to cater to your own style and taste.

Quick and Easy to Make

Let’s face it, throwing together a delicious gormet salad can make it seem like you are a seasoned chef, when done right. First before we even begin to assemble this salad, there are a few tips I need to share. I do my grocery shopping once a week, because -well it’s just how I have always done it. I make my weekly meal list, along with the recipes and ingredients. I know that whatever I am going to be cooking up for my family there are staples that I replace weekly.

• Green Leaf -arugula, spinach, kale, mixed greens
• mini cucumbers
• feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, mozzerella, parmesean
• Apples, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• walnuts, almonds, pecans
• lemons and limes
• olive oil, extra virgin olive oil

This is a short example of my go-to-ingredients that I know if I am out, I will always use in my cooking. You can start with this list or create your own. I have found that once you begin finding your own style and flavor profile, you will be able to make your own list of staples.

This salad takes very little prep work and is one of the easiest, most rewarding salads that I make. I buy apples from the local farmers market when I can and use what is available. If there are no apples available, I use Gala or Honeycrisp organic apples. Slice using a mandolin or a good paring knife, making slices as thin as possible. Toss spring green mix or romaine lettuce with the goat cheese, bacon bits, candied walnuts, my homemade Salad Dressing, topped with sliced apples- I add salt and pepper to taste. Oh my gosh this is so good!

Ingredients

Gala or Honeycrisp apples– washed and thinly sliced

Lettuce– mixed greens, or Romaine Lettuce, I use prewashed

Goat Cheese- use goat cheese that is not precrumbled-it is not as creamy as the cheese that you get at the cheese deli or the cheese that comes in a solid chunck

Candied Walnuts-roughly chopped walnuts add not only protein but that meaty flavor with a little sweetness

Crispy Bacon or Procsiuto- I like to bake my bacon at 400 Degrees for 15 mns and I do this ahead of time or I use prosciutto and cut into small strips

Best Dressing Ever

Ingredients

1/4 C. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2Tbls Apple Cider Vinegar

2tsp Honey or Maple syrup

1/2tsp Dijon Mustard

1/4c shredded Parmesean Cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar or any jar with a lid-shake until all ingredients are blended or use an emulisifier. Dressing can be stored in refridgerator for up to 3 mos.

Combine all Ingredients

Make this easy and healthy salad and ENJOY! Let me know what you think