Best Ensalada de Manzana Recipe

You may be familiar with the classic Spanish recipes for salads such as the ensalada de zanahoria and the ensalada de espinacas, but others provide creative twists.

The ensalada de manzana is one of them, blending sweet and savory flavors to perfection, with an amazing crunchy texture that you get from the apples and walnuts.

Continue reading this article to learn how to prepare this recipe at home, with some expert tips for storing, serving, and ingredient replacements that you could follow.

You, dear reader, support this blog. If you purchase through a link, we earn a small commission. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish salad recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Spanish tuna salad

• Spanish potato salad with olives

• Spanish macaroni salad

Background of the Dish

Spanish salad ideas are infinite, and Southern Spain is the home of some of the most innovative and flavorful combinations, often incorporating fresh, local ingredients and giving them a twist.

The ensalada de manzana is one of them, and it was developed as a way to give a new life to traditional salad recipes by combining the crispness of apples with unique flavors and textures.

Other modern Andalusian salads include the honey mustard chickpea salad and the apple manchego salad, but the ensalada de manzana stands out thanks to its freshness and variety of flavors.

Pin for later!

Things You’ll Need for Ensalada de Manzana

To prepare one of the best Spanish salad recipes, you will need apples, nuts, celery stalks, mayonnaise, yogurt, and honey as the main ingredients.

Ingredients

• 5 large apples (Granny Smith or any tart variety)
• 1 cup (120gr) walnuts
• 1 celery stalk
• 1/2 cup (70gr) raisins or dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup (110gr) mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup (60gr) plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)
• 5 candied cherries for garnish (optional)

How to Make Ensalada de Manzana – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step in this apple salad recipe, wash the apples, and remove the core and seeds. You could peel the apples, but it isn’t necessary if you clean them properly. Chop them into bite-sized squares and set aside.

2. After that, cut the walnuts in half. Also, thinly slice the celery stalk.

3. Now, to prepare the apple & walnut salad dressing you have to grab a small bowl and mix the mayonnaise, yogurt, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper. 

4. Then, grab a large bowl and combine the diced apples, chopped walnuts, sliced celery, and raisins or dried cranberries.

5. To continue with this Spanish summer salad recipe, pour the dressing on top of it. Gently toss the ensalada de manzana until everything gets coated with it.

6. After that, cover the traditional Spanish salad with a lid, plastic wrap, or a clean plastic bag, and let it cool in the fridge for up to 30 minutes.

7. Now, do a taste test and adjust the seasoning and dressing of the ensalada de manzana if desired.

8. To finish this recipe, serve the ensalada de manzana cold as a side dish or an appetizer. Optionally, you can top it with chopped parsley and cherries.

Substitution of Ingredients

Something that we love about Spanish salad recipes is that they usually allow you to make a few ingredients as long as you have the main one, and fortunately the ensalada de manzana is no exception.

First, you can prepare this recipe with other types of apples, such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Gala, depending on your preference for sweetness and texture.

Besides that, you can make this apple salad with chicken, shrimp, tofu, or hard-boiled eggs to add more protein.

Different from other authentic Spanish salad recipes, this one calls for a creamy dressing that you can adapt by using dairy-free or vegan products if you prefer.

You will need fresh apples to make this recipe, but we have other easy Spanish salad recipes that feature ingredients that are available year-round, such as the chickpea and chorizo salad, the roasted beet salad recipe, and the summer chickpea salad.

Try our latest Spanish potato salad recipe with eggs, a nutritious and easy-to-make Spanish salad recipe or the chicken salad with yogurt.

Tips on Serving Ensalada de Manzana

The ensalada de manzana is the most refreshing side dish or appetizer that you can have, showcasing the perfect blend of sweet and salty flavors.

To add new flavor profiles, you can top the ensalada de manzana with crumbled feta cheese, sliced green onions, or a sprinkle of smoked paprika.

Besides that, you can serve it as the Spanish salad bowl and let your guests serve as much as they want, even adding smaller bowls with different toppings like grated cheese, bread croutons, or more nuts.

Lastly, there are more Spanish-style salad recipes that you can prepare this summer to have a fully Andalusian tapas table, such as the Spanish summer salad, the ensalada de remolacha, and the ensalada de pepino.

How to Store Ensalada de Manzana

The ensalada de manzana can only be stored for a couple of hours in the fridge because the apples may start to brown and lose their crispness, and the dressing can become watery over time.

If you are planning on storing it, then make the recipe but don’t add the Spanish salad dressing until right before serving, and be sure to do a taste test as well.

If you are looking for traditional Spanish salads or different dishes that could be stored for longer than that, then you can visit our Spanish apple empanada, basic chickpea salad, or gazpacho salad recipe.

Recipe Card: Ensalada de Manzana

---

---