Crunchy Apple Carrot Salad (Printable)

Julienned apples and carrots tossed with nuts, raisins and a creamy citrus yogurt dressing. Bright, crunchy, ready in 20 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 2 medium apples, cored and cut into matchsticks (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)
02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
03 - 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
05 - 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

→ 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 freshly ground black pepper

# How-To:

01 - Place the apples, carrots, celery, walnuts, raisins, and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Toss gently to evenly distribute all ingredients.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, orange juice, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
03 - Pour the creamy citrus dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss thoroughly to coat everything evenly.
04 - Transfer the salad to a serving bowl or platter. Garnish with additional nuts and chopped parsley, if desired. Serve immediately for optimal texture or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This salad is shockingly satisfying with its crisp crunch, like taking a bite out of sunshine.
  • The creamy citrus dressing ties it all together and always draws recipe requests from friends.
02 -
  • Never skip patting the apples dry or you&apose risk a watery dressing—lesson learned after an early, soggy attempt.
  • Letting the salad sit longer than an hour can dull its crunch, so timing really is everything.
03 -
  • Slice everything as close to serving time as possible so nothing loses crunch.
  • If you want the dressing even silkier, whisk in a few drops of olive oil at the end.

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