Description
A refreshing and sweet Carrot Apple Salad combining crisp apples, matchstick carrots, and mandarin segments in a creamy vanilla yogurt and mayo dressing with a hint of lemon juice and sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 red delicious apple
- 1 granny smith apple
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cups matchstick carrots
- ¼ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- ⅓ cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 1 cup canned mandarin segments, drained
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup vanilla yogurt
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Cut both the red delicious and granny smith apples into matchstick-style pieces and place them in a bowl.
- Coat with Lemon Juice: Pour the lemon juice over the apple pieces and toss well to coat, preventing browning. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Mix Vegetables and Fruits: In a large mixing bowl, pour the matchstick carrots, then add the finely diced onion and dried sweetened cranberries.
- Add Apples: After the apples have soaked, add them to the large mixing bowl with the other ingredients.
- Prepare Dressing: Add the vanilla yogurt, mayo, sugar, salt, and pepper to the mixing bowl.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly to evenly coat everything in the dressing.
- Add Mandarins: Gently fold in the drained mandarin segments to the salad.
- Chill Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least three hours to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve and Enjoy: After chilling, give the salad a final stir and serve chilled.
Notes
- Using lemon juice on apples helps prevent browning and keeps the salad looking fresh.
- You can substitute vanilla yogurt with plain yogurt and a bit of vanilla extract for a less sweet option.
- For a dairy-free version, try a vegan yogurt and a vegan mayo alternative.
- Make sure to drain the mandarin segments well to avoid excess moisture.
- This salad is best served chilled and can be prepared up to a day in advance.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 5 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
