Carrot Apple Salad with Cranberries and Mandarins Recipe
This refreshing Carrot Apple Salad combines the crispness of two varieties of apples with matchstick carrots, sweet dried cranberries, and juicy mandarin segments. Coated in a creamy vanilla yogurt and mayo dressing with a hint of lemon juice, sugar, and spices, this salad brings a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. It’s a vibrant, healthy side dish that you can prepare in advance and chill for hours to enhance the flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Fruit
- 1 red delicious apple
- 1 granny smith apple
- 1 cup canned mandarin segments, drained
Vegetables
- 2 cups matchstick carrots (precooked from grocery store or freshly cut)
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely diced
Dressing and 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 Apples: Cut both the red delicious and granny smith apples into matchstick-sized pieces. Place them in a medium bowl.
- Toss with Lemon Juice: Pour the lemon juice over the cut apples and toss well to ensure all the pieces are evenly coated. This prevents browning and adds a zesty flavor.
- Soak Apples: Set the bowl aside and let the apples soak in the lemon juice for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, add the matchstick carrots, finely diced yellow onion, and dried sweetened cranberries.
- Add Apples: After the 5-minute soak, add the apple pieces with lemon juice into the large mixing bowl.
- Add Creamy Dressing: Add the vanilla yogurt and mayonnaise to the bowl with the fruits and vegetables.
- Seasoning: Sprinkle the sugar, salt, and black pepper into the bowl.
- Mix Salad: Stir all ingredients thoroughly to combine the fruits, vegetables, and dressing evenly.
- Add Mandarins: Gently fold in the drained canned mandarin segments into the salad.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: After chilling, give the salad a gentle stir, serve cold, and enjoy!
Notes
- If fresh matchstick carrots are not available, you can use pre-packaged ones from the grocery store for convenience.
- The lemon juice not only prevents browning of the apples but also adds a pleasant tang to the salad.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute the vanilla yogurt with a plant-based yogurt and use vegan mayonnaise.
- Refrigerate the salad covered for up to 24 hours but consume within that for best texture and flavor.
- Adjust sugar amount based on your sweetness preference or substitute with honey or agave nectar.
- Drain mandarins well to prevent excess moisture from diluting the dressing.
