When I walk into the kitchen to make my apple walnut salad, I always look for a dressing that will really bring out the flavors of the vegetables and nuts.
The key is to find a dressing that’s not too heavy or too acidic, but also one that isn’t bland.
After trying just about every dressing under the sun, I’ve narrowed it down to 11 dressings that go well with apple walnut salad.
But first, what’s the best dressing to use with apple walnut salad?
The best dressing for an apple walnut salad is a simple vinaigrette. The acidity of the vinegar in your vinaigrette will cut through the sweetness of your apples and walnuts, while also adding a little bit of bite to contrast with the soft texture.
You can adjust the amount of vinegar in your vinaigrette according to your own preferences, but be careful not to make it too acidic or too sweet—you’ll want to maintain balance between the two flavors so that neither dominates the other.
For more ideas, keep scrolling!
11 Dressings that Go Well with Apple Walnut Salad
Apple Walnut Salad is a perfect salad to pair with dressing.
The sweet, crunchy apples and walnuts are the perfect balance for a simple green salad.
You can enjoy this salad with any dressing, but here are some of my favorites:
1. Honey-Mustard Dressing
If you like honey mustard as much as I do, then this is definitely going to be a go-to dressing for your salad!
This dressing is very easy to make and it takes just minutes before you’re ready to eat some delicious salad goodness!
- First, you’ll need to mix together 1/2 cup honey and 3 tablespoons of grainy mustard. If you have some fresh herbs on hand, feel free to add them in as well! Rosemary or thyme work perfectly well with this combination—just be sure not to use too much!
- Next step: combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add 1/2 cup olive oil slowly while whisking continuously until fully incorporated into mixture (about 1 minute).
- Finally, add salt if needed (I recommend about 1/4 teaspoon) then serve over your favorite salads!
2. Ranch Dressing
Another dressing that I like to use is ranch dressing.
Ranch dressing is one of those things that you either love or hate, but I happen to fall in the former category.
It’s not too heavy and doesn’t have a strong flavor—it just adds a little kick of flavor to your salad.
3. Blue Cheese Dressing
This is one of my favorite dressings for salads because it’s rich and creamy, with just enough tang to balance out the sweet apples and crunchy walnuts in this salad.
I also love that it’s made with real ingredients—no artificial flavors or preservatives here!
Just simple ingredients like mayonnaise, sour cream, blue cheese crumbles and fresh herbs.
4. Thousand Island Dressing
Thousand Island dressing is another great choice for this meal because it’s tangy and sweet, which makes it perfect for offsetting any bitterness from the greens or apples without being overpowering.
Plus, if you’re looking for something that will make your salad taste like a burger (which sometimes happens around here), Thousand Island dressing is a must-have!
5. Caesar Salad Dressing
Caesar salad dressing is a classic, and it’s great with this salad because it brings out the earthy flavors of the walnuts and arugula.
It also helps to balance out the sweetness of the apples and crunchy celery.
6. Creamy Italian Dressing
Source: www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com
If you’re looking for something lighter and less acidic, I’d recommend creamy Italian dressing.
This dressing has a nice balance of vinegar and oil that will help to bring out the flavors of your ingredients while still keeping things light enough to be enjoyable.
7. Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing
Source: erhardtseat.com
This one is quite simple to make and has just enough sweetness to balance out the tartness of the fruit.
All you need is 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoon mustard and 1 teaspoon salt.
Mix everything together in a bowl until well-combined.
You can store this in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
8. Raspberry Vinaigrette
The sweet flavor of raspberries goes perfectly with apples and walnuts and brings out their sweetness as well.
This is an awesome dressing because it’s so light and refreshing—and it doesn’t take much time to whip up!
To make raspberry vinaigrette:
- Simply mix together 1/4 cup raspberry jam with 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon honey (or syrup).
- Whisk until smooth and refrigerate until ready to use!
9. Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Source: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com
This dressing has a more robust flavor than the raspberry vinaigrette—It has a hint of sourness to it thanks to the balsamic vinegar.
- To make this dressing, start by combining 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar with 1/4 cup honey (or agave syrup) and 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil in a small bowl or jar; whisk everything together well until it’s smooth and free from any lumps or clumps of honey or oil at the bottom of your container or bowl (this will take some patience!).
- Then add salt and pepper to taste before storing your dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
10. Tangy Citrus Vinaigrette
I often like to use a tangy citrus vinaigrette for most of my salad recipes.
It’s light, but it also has a little bit of spice to it.
The acidity of the dressing is balanced out by the sweetness of the apples and nuts, so it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.
11. Apple Cider Vinaigrette
This apple cider vinaigrette is a little bit different than the citrus one above because it adds an additional element of texture to your salad.
You’ll notice that this dressing isn’t as thick as some others on the market, which makes it easier to pour over your salad without making it too runny or watery (which can happen with some dressings).
Why You Should Use a Dressing for Your Apple Walnut Salad
You want to make sure that the dressing is just right.
Here are three reasons why you should consider using a dressing for your apple walnut salad:
- The dressing will help the flavors of the other ingredients pop. It will bring out their natural sweetness and add an extra dimension of flavor that you can’t get from just eating them on their own.
- It will prevent the salad from drying out too much during storage, which can be a problem if you don’t use a dressing as it may not have enough moisture content to keep it fresh throughout its shelf life without going bad before then!
- You won’t have any trouble finding a dressing that fits your preferences because there are so many different kinds available right now, with new ones being released all the time!
11 Dressings that Go Well with Apple Walnut Salad
Ingredients
- Honey-Mustard Dressing
- Ranch Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Thousand Island Dressing
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Creamy Italian Dressing
- Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing
- Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
- Tangy Citrus Vinaigrette
- Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Pick any salad dressing from this list to pour over your delicious meal.
- Prepare the ingredients according to the recipe.
- Be ready to munch in no time at all.
Jenny has always been passionate about cooking, and she uses her platform to share her joy of food with others. Her recipes are easy to follow, and she loves giving tips and tricks to help others create their own unique culinary creations.