Carrot Apple Salad with Cranberries and Mandarin Recipe
This vibrant Carrot Apple Salad combines the crisp sweetness of apples with the refreshing crunch of matchstick carrots, accented by dried cranberries and juicy mandarin segments. Tossed with a creamy vanilla yogurt and mayo dressing, lightly sweetened and seasoned, this salad offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. It’s a refreshing, easy-to-make side dish ideal for any season.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Produce
- 1 red delicious apple
- 1 granny smith apple
- 2 cups matchstick carrots (precut or fresh)
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 cup canned mandarin segments, drained
Dressing & Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cut and Prepare Apples: Cut both the red delicious and granny smith apples into matchstick-sized pieces. Place them in a bowl.
- Toss with Lemon Juice: Pour the lemon juice over the cut apples and toss well to coat thoroughly, which helps prevent browning.
- Let Apples Soak: Set the bowl aside and allow the apples to soak in the lemon juice for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare Main Salad Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, add the matchstick carrots, finely diced yellow onion, and dried sweetened cranberries.
- Add Apples to Salad Bowl: After the apples have soaked, add them to the mixing bowl with carrots, onion, and cranberries.
- Add Dressing Ingredients: Add the vanilla yogurt and mayonnaise to the salad bowl.
- Season the Salad: Add sugar, salt, and black pepper to the ingredients in the bowl.
- Mix Thoroughly: Stir all the ingredients together well to combine the flavors evenly.
- Add Mandarin Segments: Add the drained canned mandarin segments to the bowl and gently fold them into the salad.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least three hours to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
- Serve: After chilling, serve the carrot apple salad cold and enjoy as a refreshing side dish.
Notes
- Use lemon juice to prevent the apples from browning and maintain a fresh look.
- You can substitute vanilla yogurt with plain yogurt mixed with a little vanilla extract if preferred.
- For a tangier taste, substitute half the mayo with sour cream.
- This salad is best served chilled and can be made a day ahead.
- Use fresh matchstick carrots or pre-shredded bags for convenience.
Keywords: carrot apple salad, fruit salad, healthy side dish, creamy salad, apple carrot recipe, yogurt dressing salad
