Apple Gorgonzola Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

This full-flavored apple gorgonzola salad is the perfect combination of savory, sweet, and tangy, and it comes together in less than 10 minutes. The zippy mustard vinaigrette balances the sweet-tart Granny Smith apple, peppery arugula, and nutty pistachios. Serve it as a main entree or side salad.

There aren't many salads that I want second helpings of, but this vegetarian salad is one of them.

It covers all of the major taste profiles: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and umami. Despite it being a simple salad, it packs a TON of flavor.

For more robust salads, try my summer bean salad, harvest bowl, and cucumber salad!

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why This Salad is the Best
• 🍏 Ingredient Notes
• 📝 Variations & Substitutions
• 🔪 How To Make Apple Gorgonzola Salad
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• 🍽 How To Serve
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🥗 More Salad Recipes
• Apple Gorgonzola Salad

⭐️ Why This Salad is the Best

• Full-flavored: Savory, sweet, zippy, and earthy
• Crisp, creamy, and crunchy texture
• Quick: Prepped in just 10 minutes
• Simple whole foods
• Healthy: High in fiber and protein-rich
• Make ahead option

🍏 Ingredient Notes

• Freshly-squeezed orange juice - Adds bright citrus notes to the dressing
• Dijon mustard - Provides a lovely spicy bite. If you're a fan of mustard, try my salmon with mustard dill sauce and tomato tart with puff pastry.
• Garlic - I highly recommend using fresh garlic since it is a prominent flavor in the dressing.
• Arugula - I love this peppery, bitter green. Always be sure to rinse and pat dry your greens before using.
• Gorgonzola cheese - Deep, funky, and salty notes. If you choose to leave the cheese off, you will need to add a bit more salt to your salad.
• Pistachio nuts - Nutty, slightly sweet crunchiness

📝 Variations & Substitutions

• Add your favorite protein. To make a heartier salad, add ½ cup of protein (chicken, tofu, chickpeas, etc.).
• Make a grain bowl: Add 1 (cooked) cup of your favorite grain to make a more filling vegetarian meal. Brown rice, quinoa, or farro would all work great.
• Nut-free: Omit the pistachios for a nut-free version.
• Make dairy-free: Substitute a plant-based/vegan cheese for the Gorgonzola.
• Vinegar. If you don't have balsamic vinegar on hand, you could also use white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
• Fresh spinach. This can be used in place of arugula. It won't be as peppery, but still delicious!
• Apples. If you want a slightly sweeter salad, substitute a Fuji, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp apple for the Granny Smith. Or chop up a few dried figs, prunes, or dates.
• Nuts. Use your favorite nuts in place of the pistachios. Toasted walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans would all work well.

🔪 How To Make Apple Gorgonzola Salad

Make vinaigrette: Whisk together orange juice, balsamic vinegar, mustard, and garlic; gradually whisk in oil until well blended. Set aside to mellow flavors.

For salad, divide greens among four salad plates. Top with apple slices. Sprinkle with cheese and nuts. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.

Whisk vinaigrette once more; drizzle over salads and serve.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Storage: If salad greens and vinaigrette are stored separately, they will keep (covered) in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Otherwise, the dressed salad will keep up to 48 hours.
• Make ahead: Prep your ingredients and store separately in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before serving.
• Use toasted pistachios. Toasted nuts have a much deeper and richer flavor compared to raw nuts. To toast: Place (on a baking sheet) in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for 10 minutes.
• This salad works as 2 main salads or 4 side salads.
• Serve vinaigrette on the side. If you don't plan on eating your salad immediately, I recommend serving the vinaigrette on the side. This way, you can store the vinaigrette in the refrigerator separately, which avoids wilted greens.

🍽 How To Serve

Although you can eat this salad as a main dish if you have a larger serving, it's best served as a side salad paired with a main course.

Try it with broccoli pasta bake, portobello burgers, or chicken focaccia sandwich.

Serve it with a piece of flavorful bread, like rosemary focaccia or a crusty dinner roll.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🥗 More Salad Recipes

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