Apple Manchego Salad

Simple yet sophisticated, this apple manchego salad pairs sweet, crisp apples, nutty manchego cheese, and arugula with a simple apple cider vinaigrette. It’s a fantastic fall salad for easy entertaining!

I’ll be the first to admit that this apple manchego salad is immensely simple – basic even. But that’s not always a bad thing! Using a few select, quality ingredients that are full of flavors of their own, like peppery arugula, sweet-tart honeycrisp apples, and nutty, creamy manchego that has a hint of sweetness…there’s a lot going on! And it works great together!

All it needs is a simple vinaigrette to tie it all together – enter my apple cider vinaigrette.

It’s simple enough to throw together whenever you want a delicious side salad, but sophisticated enough to serve when entertaining or at a holiday table.

Let’s make it!

Ingredients

For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Arugula: arugula is a delicious green for a salad base. It’s tender, peppery, and really bring an entirely different flavor and vibe compared to romaine or kale-based salads.
• Apple: You can use whichever apple type you prefer, but I love a good honeycrisp apple in this salad. The crisp texture is fabulous here, and the sweet notes with just a hint of tartness are perfect.
• Manchego Cheese: Manchego cheese is a nutty cheese, with subtle sweet notes, making it a wonderful pairing with apples and arugula.
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette: this apple cider vinaigrette uses a handful of ingredients to make a slightly sweet, slightly tangy, gently flavored dressing that ties it all together.

How to Make an Apple Manchego Salad

For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Create a bed of arugula in a medium serving platter.
2. Arrange 3-4 apple slices together and nestle them into the arugula.
3. Shave manchego cheese over the salad.
4. Whisk apple cider vinaigrette together in a separate bowl, then drizzle over the salad just before serving.

Expert Tips

• Leave the apple peel on – this adds a pretty pop of contrasting color, but also retains more fiber and nutrients.
• Use a vegetable peeler to shave the cheese. Alternatively, you can also grate the cheese if you prefer.
• Dress the salad just before serving. Arugula can wilt faster and lose its integrity the longer that it sits in a dressing. Alternatively, you can also serve the dressing on the side to allow guests to dress their salads themselves.

Substitutions & Variations

• Apples – use any type of apple you prefer!
• Greens – if arugula isn’t your thing, or it’s not available near you, try either a bed of baby spinach, or finely julienned baby kale. If choosing baby kale, you can massage it with the dressing prior to assembling the salad. This will help tenderize it even more.
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette – for a creamier option, try my creamy apple cider dressing! If you’re curious about any specific variations or swaps for the recommended apple cider vinaigrette, please check that post for more detailed information.
• Add toasted nuts or seeds for some crunch.
• Toss the arugula with some fresh herbs for greater flavor. Green onion, parsley, thyme, and rosemary all taste delicious here. A little can go a long way!

Storage

This apple manchego salad does not store well once it’s dressed. I recommend assembling the greens, apple slices, and manchego and storing in its own airtight container in the fridge.

Prepare the apple cider vinaigrette separately, also storing in an airtight container in the fridge. Add to the salad just before serving.

More Delicious Salad Recipes

• Cucumber Mediterranean Salad
• Peach Burrata Salad
• Mango Chicken Salad
• Butternut Beetroot Salad
• Edamame Cucumber Salad
• Poblano Corn Salad with Chicken

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