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This easy salad recipe combines spring mix greens with candied walnuts, homemade dressing, and diced apples. Dried fruit and shredded Parmesan cheese are sprinkled on top for good measure. This spring mix salad is a family favorite that I make several times a week.
Have you ever asked your family what their favorite food is that you make? The other day I asked my kiddo. I was expecting they would choose homemade pizza, ziti al forno, tacos, or even one of the tofu dinners I make. But instead, they totally surprised me by saying that of my many recipes, this apple walnut salad was their favorite. “I could eat it every day for the rest of my life,” they said. Well ok then!
Before this conversation, it had never occurred to me to share this recipe. It is so SIMPLE. But, I make it at least 3-4 times a week and the entire thing gets devoured by my family every time. So I suppose simple doesn’t mean a recipe is not worth sharing.
This salad is made with a mix of spring greens that you can get at the grocery store. All you have to do is fill a salad bowl with the mix, then whip up a basic dressing and add your preferred toppings. During the winter months I usually add diced apples and dried cranberries with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for good measure.
Why You’ll Love This Spring Mix Salad Recipe
- Easy. It takes less than 10 minutes to make this salad. Less than 5 if you skip candy-ing the walnuts.
- Flavorful. The spring mix itself has a variety of flavors and textures, which are enhanced by homemade salad dressing and a variety of fixings.
- Flexible. You can add a variety of different fruits, nuts, and other fixings to this salad. I will share some ideas below so you can experiment and see what you like best.
Do I Have to Candy the Walnuts?
You can skip this step if you are pressed for time. I usually candy the walnuts because it only takes a couple of minutes, but I’ve also made this salad with plain chopped walnuts and it is still delicious.
What is in Spring Mix Salad?
“Spring mix” is a term used for a variety of pre-packaged greens in the US. Usually, it will include a mixture of baby greens like lettuce, spinach, and green oak leaf. I like to use the spring mix by Olivia Organics which includes:
- Red and green lettuce
- Tango Lettuce
- Lolla Rosa
- Red and green oak
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Red and green chard
- Beet Greens
- Butter Lettuce
- Mizuna
- Frisee
- Radiccho
- Kale
- Collard
- Red Mustard
- Tat-Soi
I know that is quite a list right? You can use any kind of spring mix salad but this one is our favorite because it has so many colors, plus a variety of flavors and textures.
How to Make Apple Walnut Spring Mix Salad
- Prep the walnuts. In a small skillet over medium-low heat, combine the walnuts, maple syrup and salt. Stir together as you cook them, about 4 minutes, until the maple syrup has coated the nuts well and thickened a bit. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
- Make the salad dressing. In a medium bowl, combine all the salad dressing ingredients. Whisk well.
- Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the spring mix, candied walnuts, diced apple and dried cranberries. Drizzle the salad dressing on top and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Salad Topping Variation Ideas
This is where you can get creative and really customize this spring mix salad to your preferences. While apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries are our favorite combo, I sometimes use:
- Fresh blueberries. Or any kind of fresh berry, such as raspberries and blackberries.
- Cheddar cheese. Shredded sharp cheddar cheese is also excellent in this salad.
- Sliced grapes. Another favorite! I usually use red grapes but you can also use green. Slice them in half and then add them to your salad. They lend sweetness to every bite similar to the diced apples or berries.
- Clementine slices. Peel and slice a clementine and then cut each slice into 2-3 pieces and add them to your salad.
Want to go all out? You can also add a mixture of all of the above to this salad recipe.
What to Serve With This Salad
One of the great things about salad is that it goes with so many main dishes. You can serve it with pizza, pasta, soup, or even enjoy it on its own with a crusty slice of bread. Here are some favorite recipes that go particularly well with this salad:
Can I Make it in Advance?
You can make this salad in advance if you store the dressing separately. If you cover the greens with dressing and let it sit for too long the salad will wilt and lose some of its crunch.
So mix up the salad mix with your add-ins, then place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. Then mix up your dressing and place it in a jar or other lidded container and store it in the fridge.
Your salad mix and dressing will keep, stored separately, for up to 2 days. Keep in mind though that fruits like diced apples will brown within an hour or so. Therefore, I recommend adding the diced apple just before serving.
Apple Walnut Spring Mix Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups spring mix, lettuce, baby spinach, arugula and baby kale
For candied nuts
- 1 cup chopped walnuts, roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- Pinch kosher salt
For dressing
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste, or 2-3 minced cloves, depending on size
- ½ teaspoon ginger paste
Fixings
- 1 apple, cored and diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries or cherries
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prep the walnuts. In a small skillet over medium-low heat, combine the walnuts, maple syrup and salt. Stir together as you cook them, about 4 minutes, until the maple syrup has coated the nuts well and thickened a bit. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.
- Make the salad dressing. In a medium bowl, combine all the salad dressing ingredients. Whisk well.
- Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the spring mix, candied walnuts, diced apple and dried cranberries. Drizzle the salad dressing on top and toss to coat. Serve immediately.