Salad with Apples and Cucumber

This salad with apples and cucumbers is a quick and easy salad that is fresh and light and perfect for eating alongside a bowl of soup or a heavier meal.

I love throwing together a salad to go with a meal. It’s an easy way to get vegetables (and in this case, fruit too) incorporated into the meal. The light, crunchy texture of salad is perfect alongside a creamy soup, a hearty pasta, or a heavy main course, like a roast.

Are you the type of person that always eats the salad first and then moves on to the main dish? I do this sometimes but often I like to just pile my salad on my dinner plate with everything else and eat it as I go. That gives you that nice contrasting freshness and it also leaves less room on my plate for things like buttery pasta and more decadent items like steak. I just love salad with steak.

Usually my salads consist of five basic elements: greens, something crunchy, something chewy/soft, and something with a bit of protein or salt. And don’t forget the dressing!

Greens? Spinach, romaine, mixed greens, kale. Whatever I have in the house. Lately I’ve been loving the mixed greens that come with herbs mixed right in. I love the flavor the fresh herbs add.

Something crunchy? Oh the possibilities are endless. Being that we’re surrounded by the bounty of fall, lately the crunchy takes on the form of apple slices. Celery is also great, cucumbers are wonderful and mild in flavor. Carrots are always a good standby. Ever tried jicama? I love it.

Something chewy/soft? Might sound weird at first but this texture makes the salad really great. I love dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins. They’re my go-to. But again with the fall bounty, you might want to try some roasted squash or sweet potatoes to fill this chewy/soft void.

Protein or salt. This is the most fun category. Nuts, meats, cheeses, even baked tofu! I love nuts on my salads, especially candied nuts. Or keeping with the fall theme, maybe some roasted pumpkin seeds? Cheese is always great on a salad. My favorite salad cheese is feta. Or I love toasty homemade croutons–they’re the best!

And dressings are so easy to make at home! All you really need is lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper but it is so fun to get creative with dressings. For this salad, I make a dressing with Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and of course, salt and pepper. It is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy and complements the apples in a wonderful way.

Interested in making your own salad dressing?

Salad dressings/vinaigrettes are super simple to make and taste light years better than store bought. Here’s a few for you to try:

 

• Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
• Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
• Catalina Dressing Recipe
• a list of 15 of the best salad dressings on RachelCooks

Verdict: Love the combination of the fresh, crisp apples with the refreshing cucumbers and flavorful dressing. The sunflower seeds add extra flavor and great crunch.
Husband’s take: He also loves this salad. 
Changes I would make: None.
Difficulty: So easy!