This apple, gouda, walnut salad is an easy fall salad that comes together in minutes. Crisp braeburn apples, creamy gouda and crunchy walnuts are tossed with minced red onion, mixed greens and a white wine vinaigrette. This is a tasty combination of fall flavors and textures – crisp, tart, sweet, sharp and crunchy all at once.
I love adding fruit, cheese and nuts to a salad and this is a classic fall combination. Braeburn apples have a sweet tart taste. Gouda is a wonderful cheese wrapped in bright red wax – it’s a semi-hard cheese with a mild buttery taste. I like to add gouda to salads rather than cheddar since it has a smoother, creamier taste.
We’re finally about to get some cool weather here and I’m ready for fall to begin. I’m looking forward to boots and sweaters and casseroles and soups. To sleeping late and brisk walks and maybe, just maybe, a little rain for poor, dry California. But for now I’m going to leave you with this fall salad. Enjoy.
A couple of notes:
The salad mix that you use should include some stronger tasting lettuce – escarole, radicchio or arugula. These will help balance out the sweet tart apples and mild, buttery cheese.
Try and slice your apple as thinly as possible – I used a really sharp knife to get such thin slices. If you’re having a hard time slicing the apple really thin – then cut it into cubes about the same size as the gouda cheese.
Soak your red onion in a little cold water before mincing. This will remove some of the raw onion taste.
This is part of my simple salad series – great simple salads using just a few ingredients but packed with flavor. If you like this salad take a look at this Tomato, Cucumber, Avocado Salad or this Peach, Feta and Pecan Salad.
PrintApple Gouda Walnut Salad
An easy fall salad featuring crisp tart apples, creamy gouda and crunchy walnuts.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 2 to 4
Ingredients
- 1 bag of baby spring mix lettuce – 5 oz bag
- 1 half braeburn apple – thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup diced gouda cheese
- 1/3 cup of walnut pieces
- 2 tbs minced red onion
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 1 tbs white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp honey – a small squeeze of honey
- 8 twists of pepper
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Wash and dry lettuce and add to a large bowl.
- Mince red onion and add to the bowl of lettuce.
- Slice the apple half as thinly as you can.
- Dice gouda into about 1/2 inch cubes.
- Measure out walnuts.
- Whisk together olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey, black pepper and salt.
- Toss half of the dressing over the lettuce and red onion.
- Add apple slices, diced gouda and walnuts to lettuce mixture.
- Add remaining dressing and toss gently until everything is coated with dressing.
Tasted great. I replaced Gouda cheese with Jalapeno cheese! 🙂 Tasted great.
Thanks so much, Kavitha. Jalapeño sounds like a great alternative – spice things up a bit! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment – I appreciate it.
What a gorgeous salad Geraldine! Gouda is one of my favorite cheeses!
Thanks, Nora. Gouda can do no wrong in my books :).
I could live on this salad during these cold months! The fruit cheese nuts combo is so good! So great!
Hi Crystal – nothing like an easy, tasty salad for lunch – the fruit, cheese and nuts combo is so the way to go. Have a great one!
I love gouda cheese so I am totally going to love this salad!!
I love gouda too! Have a good one, Ami!
This is like my perfect salad! I loooove apples and nuts in my salads, and the vinaigrette sounds amazing. Pinned!
Thanks, Rachel! Hope you enjoy it.
Geraldine, this looks like my kind of salad! And gouda is one of my all-time favorite cheeses, it is so soft and creamy….I bet it’s just perfect with those apples and walnuts.
Thanks, Denise. I’m a big fan of gouda as well. It makes a great grilled cheese also – and who doesn’t love grilled cheese.
Lovely salad!! Apples and gauda cheese is a fab combination… love the crunch from the walnuts!! 🙂
Hi Arpita – apples and gouda are made for each other! Have a good one.
Love, love, love your simple salad series! You always develop the best combinations and flavors in a bowl and I know right where to go for an outstanding recipe! Gouda and apples are a fabulous combination and one that I had forgotten about… And look how perfectly thin your apples are! My goodness! Beautiful presentation, Geraldine! So glad the cooler temps are on the way to you… I know it’s been a long wait! Here’s to sweaters and brisk mornings! Love it!
Hi Traci – Apples and gouda do work well together – think I’m going to make them in grilled cheese sandwich soon – maybe I’ll make some of your bell pepper and tomato soup – now that would be a great combo!
This salad looks divine! Love the flavours, so delicious!
Thanks, Jess. Cheese and apples are a great flavor combo. Have a good one.
I love simple, flavorful salads like this! It’s a great way to throw together an elegant meal in just a few minutes. I bet the sweet and tangy dressing goes perfectly with the apple and gouda. Thanks for sharing, Geraldine!
Thanks, Julia – I’m a big fan of the simple salads too!
oh my gawd, this salad is so gorgeous and delicious! apple, gouda, and walnuts?! I am in love!!
Thanks, Alice! It’s so easy to put together – you’ll definitely love it. Have a good one.