Grape Salad with Cream Cheese-Vanilla Dressing Recipe
This refreshing Grape Salad features a colorful mix of green and red seedless grapes tossed with crunchy pecans and a creamy dressing made from nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt, reduced-fat cream cheese, brown sugar, and vanilla. It’s an easy and vibrant side dish or healthy snack that can be enjoyed immediately or chilled for enhanced flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Fruit:
- 2 1/2 cups green seedless grapes (about 1 pound), sliced in half horizontally
- 2 1/2 cups red seedless grapes (about 1 pound), sliced in half horizontally
Nuts:
- 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans (plus a few extra for garnish, if desired)
Dressing:
- 3/4 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel cheese), softened
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/16 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine Grapes and Pecans: Place the sliced green and red grapes along with the coarsely chopped pecans into a large mixing bowl.
- Prepare Dressing: In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt, brown sugar, softened cream cheese, vanilla extract, and kosher salt until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined.
- Mix Salad: Pour the creamy dressing over the bowl of grapes and pecans, then gently stir until all the grapes and nuts are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle a few extra pecans on top for garnish if desired. Serve the grape salad immediately for the best freshness, or refrigerate it for 3 to 5 days to let the flavors meld.
Notes
- This salad can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days without losing texture or flavor.
- For a nut-free version, simply omit the pecans or substitute with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
- Using reduced-fat cream cheese keeps the salad light while maintaining a creamy texture.
- Slicing the grapes in half helps the dressing adhere better and enhances the eating experience.
