Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Envy Apples and the #loveNZfruit promotion. Please make sure to scroll to the bottom to enter the giveaway for a crate of Envy Apples (probably about 100!) and a $150 gift card. Plus, you’ll get an automatic entry for the grand prize of a Vitamix blender and a $100 gift card (awarded at the end of July at the end of the promotion)!
I am not a salad girl. I eat them at restaurants so people won’t know that I’m not a salad girl and get judge-y, but short of peer pressure, I rarely eat salad. Look at my recipe index on Ye Olde Blogge. I don’t even have a Salad category. And if I did have a Salad category, it would be populated with all the potato salads and pasta salads my carb loving brain could dream up.
So, after the fun sorbetto I made with NZ pears last month, I decided to challenge myself to make a summer salad using the lovely Envy Apples. And they are lovely, too. I read over on the Envy Apple site that they are a cross between the best of Braeburn and Royal Gala apples, and NZ fruit people, let me just say that you did a Darned Fine Job coming up with these guys.
They’re crisp and sweet, but they’re also nicely balanced. Their skins are thin so they don’t get in the way (if you normally peel your apples, you might find it unnecessary to peel these beauties). And the coolest thing about them is that they resist browning. Before I read that, I sprinkled my cut ones with Fruit Fresh to impede browning, but once I read about this slow-to-brown feature, I put it to the test. A few days ago, I sent a sliced Envy Apple–devoid of Fruit Fresh or lemon juice–in The Beloved’s lunch box. I pack his lunch around 6:30am, and he finally ate around noon. He reported back that the apple slices looked almost freshly cut. And almost freshly cut after 5 1/2 hours is pretty amazing!
Okay, so back to this salad. I used Envy Apples both in the dressing and in the salad itself. Just to mix things up a bit, I roasted the apples for the dressing and used them raw in the salad. I asked some buttery, medium cheddar to join in as well as some Bacon Flavored Almonds. The fabulous Marly of Namely Marly came up with these beauties, and I just had to make them. More than once. You can find the recipe for them on her blog. And let me tell you, I’ve made this salad with both crisp crumbled bacon and with the “bacon” almonds, and I prefer the almonds. There’s something about the sweetness of the nuts that plays nicely with the cheese and apples. And the smokiness and crunch they bring to the dish really just makes the whole thing. Huzzah, Marly, for coming up with these little slivers of deliciousness!
While it is great to eat seasonally and locally, and we try to do that as much as possible, it is also great to know that these apples from the Southern Hemisphere are at their peak and we can enjoy them in the middle of our summer. That’s one of the reasons I agreed to be a part of this promotion: the round earth is a magical place, and when we’re sweltering here in the US and Canada, the folks in New Zealand are bundling up and harvesting apples. How much fun is it to take a fruit normally reserved for warm flavors–caramel, cinnamon, clove–and use them in a warm weather recipe?! I will tell you. It is very fun.
You are going to love this salad. It is so delicious that after I took the photos (twice), I ate the whole thing (twice). And nobody was even watching! And I didn’t just eat it. I kind of inhaled it. It’s tangy, sweet, smoky, crisp with fresh apples with a mellow nuttiness from the cheese and the “bacon” almonds. I think you’ll really enjoy it. Do give it a try. Envy Apples are pretty new and are a little bit hard to find here still, but they’re worth seeking out. Maybe you could even talk to your local grocer about carrying them in the summer. And hey, why not follow Envy Apples on twitter and follow the hashtag #loveNZfruit all summer long? And check out their website as well. That’s where I learned all about the non-browning.
Oh, and you also build the whole salad–dressing and all–in the same bowl. Fun!
Summer Salad with Roasted Envy Apple Vinaigrette
Feel free to use your favorite mix of greens in this salad. If you want to use arugula and baby kale, by all means go for it.
I like to roast a few apples and blend them with the vinegar right in the blender. That way I can make dressing for as many or as few salads as I'm making, and make it right to order. The base keeps in the fridge for a good 2-3 weeks.
Ingredients
For the Dressing Base
- 3 Envy Apples, , peeled, cored and quartered
- 6 oz raspberry infused white balsamic vinegar, (or regular white balsamic vinegar)
For the Dressing (Per Salad)
- 2 Tablespoons dressing base
- 1 teaspoon minced shallot
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Herbes de Provence, (or your favorite salad herb blend)
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For the Salad (Per Salad)
- Tender salad greens of your choice, (I used an organic Spring mix)
- 1-2 Tablespoons diced cheese, , a medium-sharp buttery nutty cheese is ideal. I used an aged cheddar.
- 1/2 Thinly sliced Envy Apples, (I left the peel on mine. You can peel yours if you want).
- 1-2 Tablespoons "Bacon" Almonds, (courtesy of Marly)
For Garnish (Per Salad)
- a few additional small cubes of cheese
- 5 thin slices of Envy Apple, , fanned out
- a few additional "bacon almonds"
- Fleur de Sel and freshly ground black pepper, (optional)
Instructions
For the Dressing Base
- Roast the apples at 375F for about 30 minutes, until just beginning to get golden on the outside.
- Place the roasted apples in your blender and add the vinegar.
- Puree the mixture.
- Cool and chill. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator.
For the Salad Dressing
- Put the dressing base in a bowl large enough to hold all the ingredients including the salad greens.
- Add the shallot, mustard, herbs, salt and pepper. Whisk well to combine.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking madly, until nicely emulsified.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. This dressing is very thick, so worry not.
To Make the Salad
- Once the dressing is emulsified, add the diced cheese, Envy Apple slices and "bacon" almonds.
- Put the greens in on top.
- Using clean hands or salad tongs, toss the salad thoroughly to get a nice coat of dressing on all the components.
To Serve
- Evenly distribute the finished salad on large plates.
- Top each with a few pieces of additional cheese, the fanned apples and a few more "bacon" almonds.
- Finish with a touch of fleur de sel and freshly ground black pepper, if desired.
- Enjoy
Dinner is served.
And now that you have this great salad, go check out all the other fantastic summer recipes from our other talented bloggers.
Grilled Pizza with Apple and Sausage from Cook the Story
Easy Recipe for Apple Pie Ice Cream Bowls from It’s Yummi!
Summer Salad with Roasted Envy Apple Vinaigrette from Pastry Chef Online (that’s me!)
Grilled Apple Turkey Burgers from Cooking with Books
Apple Pie Milkshake from Big Bear’s Wife
Apple Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches from Around My Family Table
Apple Pie Bites with Caramel Dipping Sauce from Real Housemoms
Apple Trifle with Bourbon Whipped Cream + Caramel Drizzle from Climbing Grier Mountain
Apple, Sausage and Onion Kebabs with Honey Mustard from Doughmesstic
Double Berry Apple Crisp from Nutmeg Nanny
And don’t forget the giveaway! There are a bunch of chances to enter, so get going.
Thanks for spending some time here with me today. Have a great day.
Sherri Jo says
yum! I love apples so much 🙂
Jenni says
These really are worth seeking out. I don’t think I’ve ever had a more delicious apple, Sherri Jo!
Sherri Jo says
oh and I’d try your salad 🙂
Jenni says
I would make you one. =)
Jamie says
Beautiful salad! I love the apples and raspberries and the faux-bacon almonds!
Jenni says
Thanks Jamie! I’m telling you, they work better on this salad than actual bacon! =)
Becca from ItsYummi! says
This really is the prettiest salad I’ve seen in a long while, Chef J! I love it… and you for thinking of it!
Jenni says
Thanks, Bex! This salad and an apple bowl for ice cream for dessert, and we’re all set! xoxo
Christine from Cook the Story says
This is salad perfection, Jenni!
Jenni says
Those apples have made me a believer, Christine! And those almonds from Marly? So good in all sorts of things!
Stacy says
What heavenly magic is this, apples that don’t brown? I must look for them in Dubai since we get a lot of New Zealand produce. Your salad looks beautiful and crunchy and all kinds of delicious, Jenni!
Jennifer Field says
I don’t know what it is! Maybe low ethylene content or something, but it is indeed magic, Stacy! I bet you can get these guys over there, for sure. 🙂
Becky Nichols says
i have never tried this apple. on a healthy food kick right now due to health reasons and this salad just jumped out at me. thank you for sharing. going to go now and check out the other apple recipes!
Jennifer Field says
I hope you really enjoy it, Becky, and that it helps you on your road to better health!
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says
I really need this salad in my life! Love all the flavors!
Jennifer Field says
Thanks, Lauren! And yes, you really do need this in your life. If you have any Envy Apples left, this is a great use of them! 🙂
Wendy | Around My Family Table says
I love salads that have a nice crisp and sweet bite- the apples look so pretty fanned across the top, too!
Jennifer Field says
Thanks! Fanned apples are totally optional when you’re really hungry, but they do photograph very nicely, Wendy! =)
Marly says
Beautiful photos! Beautiful recipe! Just lots of beautiful going on! And then I have to say thanks so much for your kind words. You just made me smile! So glad you like those almonds. I think I’m almost out…gotta make some more so I can try this salad!
Jennifer Field says
Thank you, thank you! And I am very serious when I say that these almonds totally make the salad. Even The Beloved thought they were a better match than the bacon! =)
Betsy @ Desserts Required says
I don’t know which I am happier about…that you ate the salad without anyone watching (twice!) or that you are giving me such a delicious recipe!!
Jennifer Field says
🙂 Thanks, Betsy! It really is delicious. I hope you give it a try!
Maggie says
HOLY CRAP, JENNI — I made this vinaigrette yesterday and I can’t stop talking about it. It’s the best dressing I’ve tasted in years — and I make a lot of vinaigrettes, 3 or 4 a week.
I made it to use on a chicken & wild rice salad I was planning, but then I decided to add a few shreds of red cabbage, and when that apple vin hit the cabbage, all I could think about was using this dressing for a slaw. Which I am doing immediately, like tonight. I mean, what’s more natural than apple and cabbage together?
Seriously, people — anyone reading this must make this dressing Right Now. Anything where a sweet-ish dressing works will love it — any bitter greens, arugula, endive, etc.
I haven’t yet made the bacon almonds, but am betting they’d work great on a slaw, too.
This just pushed all the summer tomatoes and basil out of my brain. Come autumn, this is gonna get a real workout in my kitchen.
Jennifer Field says
I am thrilled that you like it so much! And what a fantastic idea to use it as a dressing for slaw, Maggie. You’ll have to let me know your results.
And those almonds are so worth making. So simple and so dang good. I wasn’t kidding when I said they were better than bacon in that salad. =)
MaggieToo says
It was autumny enough today that I made this vinaigrette again and kept my word about dressing a slaw with it — and it was divine. You MUST try this dressing on a cabbage slaw. And this time I made the almond ‘bacon’ and all I can say is Yowza. Them’s some little flavor bombs. I’m gonna make a double batch this weekend since I have all the ingredients now, freeze ’em and jazz up lots of salads with them the next few weeks. Thanks Jenni, both of these were real winners.
Jennifer Field says
Oh, hooray, Maggie!! You should go over to Namely Marly’s site and tell her how much you love the bacon guys–she would be thrilled! I am not a slaw fan–something about the particular crunch of cabbage, but The Beloved loves it. I will make it for him sometime, for sure. He will be thrilled!
MaggieToo says
Done and done.
Make those for TB. He will thank you.