Description
A refreshing and vibrant Carrot Apple Salad featuring crisp matchstick carrots, two types of apples, dried cranberries, and mandarin segments tossed in a creamy vanilla yogurt and mayo dressing. Perfectly balanced with a hint of lemon juice and a touch of sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Vegetables
- 1 red delicious apple
- 1 granny smith apple
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cups matchstick carrots
- ¼ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 cup canned mandarin segments, drained
Other Ingredients
- ⅓ cup dried sweetened cranberries
- ½ cup vanilla yogurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Cut both red delicious and granny smith apples into matchstick style pieces. Place them in a bowl and pour lemon juice over to coat. Toss well and set aside for 5 minutes to prevent browning.
- Combine Carrots and Aromatics: In a large mixing bowl, add the matchstick carrots, finely diced yellow onion, and dried sweetened cranberries. Mix gently to combine.
- Add Apples to Mix: After 5 minutes, add the lemon-coated apples into the mixing bowl with the carrots and cranberries.
- Make the Dressing: Add the vanilla yogurt, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Mandarins: Gently fold in the drained canned mandarin segments to the salad for bursts of citrus flavor.
- Chill Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 3 hours to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly.
- Serve: After chilling, give the salad a gentle stir, serve chilled, and enjoy the refreshing combination of flavors and textures.
Notes
- Using lemon juice prevents the apples from browning and keeps the salad looking fresh.
- Matchstick carrots can be purchased pre-cut to save time.
- You can substitute vanilla yogurt with plain yogurt and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract if desired.
- For a dairy-free version, replace yogurt and mayo with plant-based alternatives.
- This salad tastes best after chilling but can be served sooner if needed.
- Add walnuts or pecans for extra crunch if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
