Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad

Name: Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 cups baby arugula (-loosely packed); 4 cups baby spinach (-loosely packed); 1/2 cup Sylvan Star Grizzly Gouda (-shaved with a vegetable peeler); 1/3 cup red onion (-thinly sliced); 1 apple (-I used honey crisp, cut into small wedges); 1/4 cup unsalted pumpkin seeds; 1/4 cup walnuts (-roughly chopped); 2 cups cubed bread (-day old works great (size of dice)); 2 tbsp Sylvan Star Grizzly Gouda (-shredded on small grate of box grater); 1 tbsp unsalted butter (-melted); 1 tbsp olive oil; pinch salt; pinch black pepper; 6 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 2 tbsp maple syrup; 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper

November 20, 2017 By Girl Heart Food 49 Comments

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This is a sponsored post by Dairy Farmers of Canada, but, as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that make Girl Heart Food possible and for helping me continue to do what I love – cook, eat and share delicious recipes! #CanadianCheese

I’ve been wanting to share a green salad with you guys forever! This Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette is something hubby and I eat on the regular. It takes minutes to prepare and hits all the right notes – crispy apple, nutty gouda, buttery croutons and a delicious homemade vinaigrette. You are gonna love this one!

Hey everyone! How are ya doing? I’ve honestly made this salad (or variations thereof) for what seems like forever. I’ve been holding out on you guys – my bad. 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, waaaaay to fast). Let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?

Delicious Canadian Cheese

This cheese is not your average bear, you guys (ha – pun intended). It’s an extra-aged Canadian Gouda made by Sylvan Star Cheese, located in Red Deer, Alberta. This award-winning company has been making delicious Canadian Cheese since 1999! To produce Sylvan Star Grizzly Gouda, they use the milk from their own Holstein dairy cows that live on the very same property where the cheese is crafted.

I’ve never tasted a Gouda cheese quite like this one and I mean that in the BEST possible way. It’s a hard cheese and I would almost akin it to a texture and density of a good parmesan cheese. I ate so much cheese in preparation of this Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad….quality control, right 😉 ?

Sylvan Star Grizzly Gouda pairs well with white beers, fruit red wines and fortified cider—> so, what better ingredient to pair with this unique Gouda than an actual apple?

It’s Always Best to Eat Local

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? Side note—> I’m easily excited. 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.

How to Make 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 Sylvan Star Grizzly 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.

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. You just place all the ingredients in a mason jar, cover, do a little dance, and way to go! If you want to make this salad a little more substantial, a little added chicken would work lovely.

If you are looking for more Canadian Cheese inspiration, check out some other favourites of mine including this Open Faced Steak and Cheese Sandwich and Cheesy Tex Mex Frittata.

Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon 🙂

P.S. If you think this Apple and Gouda Mixed Green Salad will make your belly happy too, please hit that little Pin button. Many thanks, you guys! XO