This mixed green salad with apple and Gouda takes minutes to prepare and hits all the right notes with crispy apple, nutty Gouda, buttery croutons and a delicious homemade vinaigrette. You are gonna love this simple green salad!
Hi everyone! How are ya doing?
I’ve been wanting to share a green salad with you for quite some time.
I’ve honestly made this salad (or variations thereof) for what seems like forever.
Better late than never, though. I can pretty much say with full confidence that this will be a go-to salad of yours for busy weekdays (or holiday entertaining, which is rapidly approaching, like, way too fast). Let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?
What Type of Apple Should I Use?
For this recipe, I used my very own apples. They didn’t have to be shipped to me from anywhere. I literally went out into my backyard and picked them straight from the tree. How exciting is that?
The tree is not huge, but it did yield a lot. All of the apples are not perfect, but they taste amazing and are as fresh as can be. I can only imagine just how many we are going to get next year!
I used a lovely honey crisp for this mixed green salad and it works perfectly.
But, really, use whatever variety of apple you enjoy best. I also like this green salad with Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples.
Homemade Croutons
I don’t always make homemade croutons, but whenever I have a small portion of bread leftover from a loaf, it’s a great way to use it up. Waste not, want not as they say.
Plus, have you ever made homemade croutons? Seriously, it doesn’t even compare to those boxed ones you can buy in the grocery store.
These homemade croutons are buttery and crispy. And to add another element of cheese (twist my arm), I added some of the Gouda to the mix. You already know that these are going to taste fabulous, don’t ya? I could eat these like potato chips they are that good.
If you are pinched for time, though, you can totally use store-bought croutons.
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Mixed Green Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette
I used a mixture of both baby arugula and baby spinach for this mixed green salad. The combination of both add a yummy flavour.
For the dressing I made my homemade go-to vinaigrette. It’s a little savoury and a little sweet and pairs perfectly with this mixed green salad. You just place all the ingredients in a jar, cover, do a little dance, and way to go!
More Easy Salad Recipes
If you make this apple and Gouda mixed green salad, be sure to leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed! Thank you!
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Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad
Ingredients
Mixed Green Salad with Apple and Gouda
- 4 cups baby arugula , loosely packed
- 4 cups baby spinach , loosely packed
- ½ cup Gouda cheese , shaved with a vegetable peeler or shredded
- ⅓ cup red onion , thinly sliced
- 1 apple , cut into small wedges (I used honey crisp)
- ¼ cup unsalted pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup walnuts , roughly chopped
Homemade Croutons
- 2 cups cubed bread (day old works great (size of dice))
- 2 tablespoons Gouda cheese , shredded on small grate of box grater
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper
Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad
- Arrange baby arugula and spinach in bowl. Top with remainder of ingredients, including homemade croutons. Drizzle with maple Dijon vinaigrette to taste. Enjoy!
Homemade Croutons
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile, toss bread cubes with rest of ingredients in a bowl.
- Place bread cubes on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, carefully turning halfway. Remove and let cool a few minutes before placing on salad.
Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
- Place all ingredients in a jar, cover, and shake to combine.
Nutrition estimate (if provided) is based on 1 serving.
Nutrition information (if provided) is provided as a courtesy and should be considered an estimate only. Ingredients can vary and Girl Heart Food makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are guidelines only.
