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Apple Arugula Salad

Apple arugula salad with lemon honey vinaigrette—thin crisp apple slices, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and shaved Parmesan are tossed for a peppery, crunchy bite. Quick no-cook method keeps the apples fresh and bright.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salad greens and toppings
  • 6 cup baby arugula
  • 2 crisp apples
  • 0.5 cup walnuts toast until fragrant
  • 0.33 cup shaved Parmesan
  • 0.25 cup dried cranberries
Lemon honey vinaigrette
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

Make the lemon honey vinaigrette
  1. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified with a glossy, uniform look. Stop once the dressing thickens slightly and no separate oil streaks remain.
Slice and prevent browning
  1. Toss apple slices with a spoonful of the dressing to prevent browning, coating the surface lightly. Let them sit for 1–2 minutes while you prep the bowl so they stay crisp and bright.
Assemble the salad
  1. Add baby arugula to a large bowl and top with the coated apple slices, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries. Arrange so the apples are mostly on top for the best crunch in every bite.
  2. Drizzle with the remaining dressing and toss gently just until the greens look lightly coated. Use a light hand to avoid bruising the arugula and keep the apples crisp.
  3. Top with shaved Parmesan and serve immediately for the freshest texture. Add it right before eating so it stays bright rather than melting into the dressing.

Notes

Pro tip: toast the walnuts and shave the Parmesan right before assembling, then dress and serve immediately to keep the arugula crisp. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to 1 day, but expect the greens to wilt; the vinaigrette tends to soften apples. Freezing is not recommended. Dietary swap: use a plant-based Parmesan alternative to keep the flavor profile while making it dairy-free.