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!

a ceramic bowl with a bed of arugula, honeycrisp apple slices, and shaved manchego cheese by a jar of apple cider vinaigrette

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.

ingredients to make an apple manchego salad with apple cider vinaigrette
  • 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.

groups of crisp apple slices nestled into a bed of arugula for a simple apple manchego salad
  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.
pouring apple cider vinaigrette over an apple manchego salad

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.

a forkful with a balanced bite of apple manchego salad

More Delicious Salad Recipes

Did you make this recipe? Give it a 5★ rating below! For more balanced nutrition and no fuss, balanced recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram!

a ceramic bowl with a bed of arugula, honeycrisp apple slices, and shaved manchego cheese by a jar of apple cider vinaigrette

Apple Manchego Salad

Simple yet sophisticated, this apple manchego salad pairs sweet apples, nutty manchego, and arugula with a simple apple cider vinaigrette.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 164kcal
Author: Lindsey

Ingredients

Salad

  • 4 ounces arugula
  • 1 honeycrisp apple cored, thinly sliced
  • 2 ounces manchego cheese shaved

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1.5 teaspoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic minced or grated
  • pinch salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Fill a medium-sized shallow bowl with the arugula. Arrange apple slices into groups of 3 or 4 slices and nestle them into the arugula.
    4 ounces arugula, 1 honeycrisp apple
  • Shave manchego cheese on top of the salad.
    2 ounces manchego cheese
  • In a small bowl, or to a small jar, combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake to combine.
    2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1.5 teaspoons honey, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic, pinch salt and pepper
  • Drizzle the dressing over the salad just prior to serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Serving sizes and nutrition information are approximations, and based on four, smaller side salad servings. 

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 776IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 202mg | Iron: 1mg

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