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Carrot Apple Salad with Cranberries and Mandarins Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 105 reviews

This refreshing Carrot Apple Salad combines crisp matchstick apples and carrots with sweet dried cranberries and juicy mandarin segments, all tossed in a creamy vanilla yogurt and mayo dressing. It’s a perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and creamy flavors that works wonderfully as a light snack, healthy side dish, or a delightful addition to your lunch or dinner spread.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruits

  • 1 red delicious apple
  • 1 granny smith apple
  • 1 cup canned mandarin segments, drained

Vegetables

  • 2 cups matchstick carrots
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely diced

Dressing & Others

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare Apples: Cut both the red delicious and granny smith apples into matchstick style pieces and place them in a bowl.
  2. Toss with Lemon Juice: Pour the lemon juice over the apple pieces and toss well to coat all the apple slices. This prevents browning while imparting a fresh tang.
  3. Let Apples Soak: Set the bowl aside and let the apples soak in the lemon juice for 5 minutes to maintain color and flavor.
  4. Combine Carrots and Onions: Pour the matchstick carrots into a large mixing bowl, then add the finely diced yellow onion and dried sweetened cranberries.
  5. Add Apples to Mixture: After the apples have soaked, add them to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.
  6. Mix Dressing Ingredients: Add the vanilla yogurt, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper into the mixing bowl.
  7. Stir Salad: Stir all the ingredients together thoroughly to combine the flavors and coat everything evenly with the dressing.
  8. Add Mandarins: Gently fold in the drained canned mandarin segments into the salad so they remain intact.
  9. Chill Salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least three hours to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
  10. Serve and Enjoy: Once chilled, give the salad a gentle stir and serve as a fresh and flavorful side dish or snack.

Notes

  • Using lemon juice on the apples helps prevent them from browning and keeps the salad looking fresh.
  • For a tangier twist, consider swapping vanilla yogurt for plain Greek yogurt and adding a bit more lemon juice.
  • You can substitute dried cranberries with other dried fruits such as raisins or chopped apricots for variation.
  • Feel free to prepare this salad a day in advance for extra flavor infusion and easy entertaining.
  • This salad can be made vegan by substituting yogurt and mayonnaise with plant-based alternatives.

Keywords: carrot apple salad, creamy carrot salad, fruit and vegetable salad, healthy side dish, easy no-cook salad, autumn salad

Find it online: https://platedbyemma.com/carrot-apple-salad-with-cranberries-and-mandarins-recipe/