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    Arugula Apple Salad with Goat Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette

    September 9, 2023 by Lauren Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Arugula Apple Salad with Goat Cheese is the perfect fall salad! When paired with a zingy Apple Cider Vinaigrette you have the perfect side salad!

    Overhead photo of apple salad with Arugula on a wooden background.

    This salad is easily one of my favorites, not only is it fairly simple to throw together, but it’s unexpected and gorgeous.  I suggest serving it with Thanksgiving dinner or simply with a side of pasta (such as these stuffed shells). 

    Jump to:
    • Helpful kitchen tools
    • Ingredients
    • The process
    • Substitutions
    • Storage + Make Ahead
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    • Arugula Apple Salad with Goat Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
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    Helpful kitchen tools

    >> Consider investing in a good wooden salad bowl and tongs.  Presentation is everything, and it’s nice to have a fantastic bowl to serve your salads out of when you have guests (and when you don’t)

    >> Additionally, you might want to invest in a salad dressing shaker, if you make a lot of homemade dressings.  Of course a mason jar will do, but if you’re often serving guests, this makes for less mess, easier storage, and nicer presentation.

    Ingredients

    • Arugula - use baby arugula, it has a slightly peppery, bitter flavor, but enough structure to hold dressing without wilting immediately.  It’s the perfect base for this salad.  
    • Apple - I used a gala apple, but any apple that you like will do as long as it isn’t too sour. 
    • Dried cranberries - this is a fall-inspired salad, full of fall flavors, and it just wouldn’t be complete without the use of some dried cranberries.  They’re delicious. 
    • Goat cheese - use plain goat cheese, if possible.  Honey flavored also works.
    • Pecans - chop them or just toss them in, it doesn’t really matter, but the texture is nicer if they’re chopped.  You can use candied pecans as well, if you’d prefer!
    • Pumpkin seeds - the little green pumpkin seeds are called pepitas, and they’re perfect in fall salads. 

    After you’ve tossed the salad together, make the dressing by combining:

    Olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper (to taste). 

    You’ll end up with a zingy, delicious dressing that pairs perfect with fall apple salads (such as this one).  The dressing recipe is the same here as my Copycat Chic-fil-A Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette.

    Apple Salad with arugula hero shot.

    The process

    This isn't a complicated salad, as there is nothing to roast or cook. It's just a simple throw-it-together cold salad. But that doesn't mean it's boring! Here's how the process will go:

    • In a large salad bowl, add the arugula, thinly sliced apple, dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, pecans, and pumpkin seeds.  
    • Next, make the apple cider vinaigrette by combining in a mason jar or whisking together in a bowl the remainder of the ingredients: olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper (to taste).  
    • Before serving, toss the salad.  Serve the dressing on the side. 
    Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette in a mason jar.

    Substitutions

    • Arugula - if you wish, you can swap the arugula for spinach. 
    • Apple - you can use a blood orange or a pear. 
    • Dried cranberries - you could try using any of the following: dried apples, raisins, papaya. 
    • Goat cheese - you can use feta.  
    • Pecans - chopped walnuts would be a great swap. 
    • Pumpkin seeds - if you want to swap the pepitas for something else, you might consider using pine nuts! Pine nuts would be an excellent swap.

    Storage + Make Ahead

    You can make this salad ahead of time by assembling everything but the apple and the goat cheese.

    Make the salad (leaving out the goat cheese and apple) and the store it in an airtight container for 1-2 days.

    Likewise, make the dressing, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

    When you're ready to serve the salad, slice the apple and crumble the goat cheese, toss, and serve with the dressing on the side. Easy.

    Overhead shot of apple salad with dressing in a silver cup.

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    Apple Salad with Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing.

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    Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipe and food content!

    Arugula Apple Salad with Goat Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette

    Arugula Apple Salad with Goat Cheese is the perfect fall salad! When paired with a zingy Apple Cider Vinaigrette you have the perfect side salad!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 409 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups baby arugula
    • 1 apple sliced thin
    • 2 tbsp dried cranberries
    • 2 tbsp goat cheese crumbled
    • 2 tbsp pecans chopped
    • 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
    • ½ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tbsp honey
    • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
    • 1 tsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • ¼ tsp lemon zest
    • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
    • 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • In a large salad bowl, add the arugula, thinly sliced apple, dried cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, pecans, and pumpkin seeds.
    • Next, make the apple cider vinaigrette by combining in a mason jar or whisking together in a bowl the remainder of the ingredients: olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper (to taste).
    • Before serving, toss the salad. Serve the dressing on the side.

    Notes

    • You can make this salad ahead of time by assembling everything but the apple and the goat cheese.
    • Make the salad (leaving out the goat cheese and apple) and the store it in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
    • Likewise, make the dressing, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
    • When you're ready to serve the salad, slice the apple and crumble the goat cheese, toss, and serve with the dressing on the side.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 615IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Apple Arugula Salad with goat cheese hero shot with text overlay.

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    About Lauren

    Lauren is the freelance writer, photographer, and recipe developer behind Shutter + Mint. Thanks for stopping by!

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    Hi, I'm Lauren! Shutter + Mint is a food blog I created to help you create easy, practical recipes at home. Thanks for stopping by!

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