This Crunchy Apple & Carrot Salad with Creamy Citrus Dressing is a refreshing and vibrant dish, perfect for any occasion! With sweet apples, carrots, and a creamy citrus dressing, it’s a light, healthy, and flavorful addition to your meals.
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:0 minutes
Total Time:3 hours 15 minutes (including chilling)
Yield:4 servings
Category:Salad
Method:No-Cook
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Salad:
Red apple: 1, cut into matchstick pieces; sweet and crisp.
Green apple: 1, cut into matchstick pieces; tart and refreshing.
Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons; helps prevent browning and adds freshness.
Dried cranberries (sweetened): 1/4 cup; for a sweet and chewy texture.
Vanilla yogurt: 1/4 cup; for creaminess and a hint of sweetness.
Mayonnaise: 1/4 cup; for a rich and smooth dressing.
Sugar: 1 tablespoon; to balance the tartness.
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon; enhances the flavor.
Black pepper: 1/4 teaspoon; adds a mild spice.
Canned mandarin segments: 1 cup, drained; for a juicy citrus kick.
Instructions
Prepare the Apples:
Slice the red and green apples into matchstick pieces. Place them in a bowl and pour lemon juice over the apples. Toss well to coat and let them sit for about 5 minutes to absorb the lemon juice.
Combine Ingredients:
In a large mixing bowl, add the matchstick carrots, diced yellow onion, and dried cranberries.
Add the Apples:
After the apples have soaked in the lemon juice, add them to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.
Make the Dressing:
In the same bowl, add the vanilla yogurt, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together until well combined and evenly coated.
Finish with Mandarins:
Gently fold in the drained mandarin segments to avoid breaking them up too much.
Chill:
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving to let the flavors meld.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
Add a handful of chopped nuts (like walnuts or pecans) for extra crunch.
This salad can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 1 day.