Carrot Apple Salad Recipe
A refreshing and colorful Carrot Apple Salad featuring a mix of sweet and tart apples, crunchy matchstick carrots, dried cranberries, and mandarin segments all tossed in a creamy vanilla yogurt and mayo dressing. Perfect as a healthy side dish or light snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit Ingredients
- 1 red delicious apple
- 1 granny smith apple
- 1 cup canned mandarin segments, drained
Vegetables
- 2 cups matchstick carrots (precooked or fresh)
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely diced
Other Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Cut both red delicious and granny smith apples into matchstick-sized pieces and place them in a bowl.
- Add Lemon Juice: Pour the lemon juice over the apple pieces and toss well to coat all the apples evenly. This helps prevent browning.
- Soak the Apples: Set the bowl aside and let the apples soak in the lemon juice for about 5 minutes to retain freshness and color.
- Combine Carrots and Onion: Pour the matchstick carrots into a large mixing bowl, then add the finely diced yellow onion and dried sweetened cranberries.
- Add Apples to Bowl: After the apples have soaked, add them to the mixing bowl with carrots, onion, and cranberries.
- Add Dressing Ingredients: Add the vanilla yogurt and mayonnaise to the bowl, followed by sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Mix the Salad: Stir all ingredients together thoroughly to combine flavors and dressing evenly.
- Incorporate Mandarins: Gently fold in the drained mandarin segments to the salad.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least three hours to allow flavors to meld and serve chilled.
- Serve: Remove from refrigerator, give the salad a gentle stir, and enjoy as a refreshing side dish or snack.
Notes
- You can use pre-cut matchstick carrots to save preparation time.
- The lemon juice step is crucial to prevent the apples from browning, preserving the salad’s vibrant appearance.
- For a tangier salad, reduce or omit sugar depending on your taste preference.
- This salad can be made a day in advance and refrigerated to deepen the flavors.
- Use plain yogurt if vanilla yogurt is not available, but it will slightly change the flavor profile.
Keywords: carrot apple salad, fruit salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, no-cook salad, side dish, easy salad recipe
Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/carrot-apple-salad-recipe/
