Fennel Apple Salad Recipe
A refreshing and flavorful Fennel Apple Salad featuring crisp fennel bulbs and green apples, combined with a tangy and creamy manchego dill dressing, toasted almonds, and fresh scallions. This salad is perfect as a light appetizer or a side dish, offering a delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- ⅓ cup grated manchego cheese (+ more for topping)
- 3–4 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 ½ lemons (zest of one lemon, juice of the rest – save a little lemon juice for fennel)
- ⅓ to ½ cup olive oil (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Salad
- 3 large fennel bulbs (or 4 medium), shaved
- 2 green apples, shaved
- 3 scallions (green part only), chopped
- ⅓ cup slivered almonds, toasted
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a mixing bowl, combine the grated manchego, chopped dill, Dijon mustard, Japanese mayonnaise, honey, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking continuously to emulsify the dressing. Begin with ⅓ cup of olive oil and add more as needed to reach desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare the fennel: Shave the fennel bulbs thinly and toss with a little lemon juice to prevent browning and add freshness.
- Prepare the apples: Shave the green apples thinly and soak in salted cold water or water with added lemon juice to prevent browning.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the shaved fennel, apples, chopped scallions, and toasted slivered almonds. Add the prepared dressing and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly. Let the salad sit for 20-30 minutes to meld flavors.
- Serve: When ready to serve, plate the salad and top generously with additional grated manchego cheese and a dash of black pepper. Enjoy immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- If preparing ahead, wait to add the extra manchego topping until just before serving to maintain its fresh texture.
- Adjust olive oil quantity based on your taste preference for dressing thickness and richness.
- Soaking apples in lemon water prevents discoloration and keeps the salad visually appealing.
- To toast almonds, lightly heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, then cool before adding.
Keywords: Fennel Apple Salad, Manchego, Dill Dressing, Green Apple Salad, Fresh Salad, Toasted Almonds, Light Salad, Mediterranean Salad
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/fennel-apple-salad-recipe/
