Apple and White Cheddar Salad

This apple and white cheddar salad combines a tangy apple cider dressing with sharp white cheddar cheese and sweet chunks of apple for a yummy fall salad you’re sure to love.

When the leaves start to change, I can’t help but get excited for fall. The crisp days, foggy mornings, and glowing, fiery trees make for the best walks. And when you come inside, there’s nothing like a cup of cinnamon tea and a slice of pumpkin bread to warm you up again. All that being said, the absolute best part of fall is all the amazing apples! Washington is the apple capital of the world, so naturally we grew up enjoying a wide variety of apples, especially in the fall. Applesauce, apple cider, apple pie, apple crisp, apples with peanut butter, apples with oatmeal, you name it and we probably tried it. 🙂

While apples are lovely in baked treats like apple bread or cinnamon rolls, they also can work in savory recipes. This apple and white cheddar salad is the perfect example! Creamy yet sharp shavings of white cheddar cheese are tossed with crisp bits of apple and an apple cider dressing. Served with a cup of soup and a side of sourdough bread, this salad is sure to hit the spot on a fall evening.

Tips for making this Apple and White Cheddar Salad

• Because the apple cider dressing is a bit acidic, I’d recommend using a sweeter variety of apple for this salad. Honeycrisp and Fuji are some of my favorites, but Cosmic Crisp or Golden Delicious would also be great.
• You can also use a heartier leafy green if you like, such as arugula or kale instead of spinach. I probably wouldn’t recommend using romaine or iceberg lettuce for this though.
• Leftovers are great for lunch the next day! Just store any extra salad in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Tools you will need

To make this apple salad, you need a bowl to serve the salad in, tongs, a cutting board, a knife, and a spoon.

Ingredients you will need

• 6 cups of spinach – This is what we had on hand, but feel free to use arugula or kale if you prefer. Spinach is nice though because it’s a little less bitter and balances out the sharpness of the cheddar cheese and the dressing.
• 1 apple – This can be any variety you like! Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Cosmic Crisp are some of my favorites. I would avoid Granny Smith for this recipe though, because a sweeter apple works better with the dressing and cheese.
• 2 oz white cheddar – I love how creamy and still sharp this cheese is! Of course, you can use regular cheddar cheese too, but the white cheddar adds a little extra elegance.
• 1 tbsp olive oil – This is for the base of the dressing. You can also use avocado oil if you prefer.
• 1 tbsp apple cider – Perfect for adding some sweetness to the dressing.
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard – Try to use a mustard that is creamy rather than grainy for a better dressing texture.
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar – Since all salads need a little acidity, why not use apple cider vinegar for an apple salad?

Optional Topping ideas:

• Toasted pecans or walnuts – If you want to be fancy, you could even use candied nuts here too.
• Shredded chicken – Great for adding some protein!
• Sourdough croutons – Perfect for a little extra crunch.
• Roasted pumpkin seeds – These make a yummy fall topping for this salad.
• Roasted chickpeas – These are an easy option if you want to add protein to this salad while keeping it vegetarian.

How to make this Apple and White Cheddar Salad

In a salad bowl, mix together the olive oil, mustard, apple cider, and apple cider vinegar to make the dressing.

Remove the stems from the spinach and add it to the bowl with the dressing.

Dice the apple into bite-sized chunks and put half of the apple in the bowl.

Shave or shred the white cheddar into strips and sprinkle half of it over the top of the salad.

Use tongs to toss the salad and evenly distribute the dressing throughout the salad.

Add the rest of the apple and the white cheddar to the salad on top and serve!

Looking for more salad recipes?

If so, head over to the Kitchen Counter for lots of healthy meal ideas. Here are a few favorites to get you started:

• Peach and Burrata Salad
• Strawberry Chicken Salad
• Chickpea “Chicken” Salad
• Hearts of Palm Salad
• Sourdough Panzanella
• Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation.