Low Sodium Apple Walnut Salad Recipe (No Salt Added)
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Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Share Pin For Later EmailThis easy low sodium apple walnut salad recipe makes a fantastic fall side – with fresh chopped apples, nuts, and a salt-free homemade dressing. Bright, fresh, and always a crowd pleaser!
Ready in about 10 minutes (including the homemade dressing!), this salad makes a fantastic appetizer or side dish all year round. It’s a great meal starter, and the perfect salad to bring to a gathering, holiday party, or Thanksgiving dinner.
This easy salad recipe is one of our most-made recipes! Both my husband and I love the flavors in this salad – it’s a little sweet, a little tangy, and is truly a hit all year long. While this recipe is perfect to add to your fall recipe rotation when apples are in season, it is easy to whip up for any occasion.
Apples and walnuts make an excellent pairing, especially when tossed with fresh greens and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette. The homemade dressing makes this salad – it’s made with olive oil, whole grain mustard, honey, and fresh garlic for loads of flavor. Don’t be intimated by homemade dressings – this one takes just 5 minutes, and and is so good you won’t even miss the salt!
This Low Sodium Apple Walnut Salad Recipe Is
- Bright
- Fresh
- Sweet
- Tangy
- Easy to Make
- Great for Serving to Guests/Company
- Made without Added Salt
Low Sodium Salad Ideas To Enjoy All Year!
I love this low sodium apple salad with walnuts recipe, which is a bright & fresh addition to the table. I love serving this salad with a cozy fall dinner, or honestly ANY time of year. Since fresh apples can be found year-round at the grocery store, pick your favorite ones for this salad.
Salads and dressings can be easy to make low sodium by using homemade dressings – which only take minutes to make! Browse all our low sodium salad recipes here for your next family favorite.
What’s In This Low Salt Salad with Apples and Nuts?
- Apples – I used Honeycrisp apples (because that’s what I had on hand!) but you can use any variety of apple you like to eat. Another personal favorite of mine are Jazz apples, if you ever see them, give one a try they are delicious!
- Walnuts: because I love adding heart-healthy and brain-healthy ingredients to my foods when I can. I stocked up a few bags of these walnuts which are super cheap and a great value for the quality.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use a fruity olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s inexpensive so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry. Olive oil gives this dish a great taste, and also can contain heart-healthy properties!
- Dried Cranberries – for a little extra sweetness & tart flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: I use organic apple cider vinegar to give this dressing a bright and fresh flavor! I’d recommend using an organic variety “with the mother” for all the added healthy benefits of ACV.
- Whole Grain Mustard – for a really nice flavor and texture. Using a really good mustard makes all the difference, and I like the texture of whole grain mustard in this salad. The mustard contains the most sodium in this recipe (100mg for 1 teaspoon, so 200mg of sodium total since I use 2 teaspoons). If you can find a lower sodium mustard or Dijon, you can substitute it if you need to.
- Honey – to add sweetness to the dressing.
- Mixed Greens – I like using mixed greens for a variety of lettuces, flavors, and textures.
How Do I Make This Low Sodium Salad & Dressing?
- In a large bowl, add the mixed greens, apple, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
- To a mason jar, add all the dressing ingredients together. Seal with airtight lid and shake well to combine.
- Right before serving, pour the dressing over the salad, and toss well to combine. Top with extra chopped apples and walnuts if desired, or your favorite low sodium salad topper – enjoy!
A Great Low Sodium Thanksgiving or Holiday Salad Recipe
This apple walnut salad is a fantastic recipe for the holidays – add it to your Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Hanukah table and enjoy. This will be one crowd pleaser salad recipe everyone will love. You can even make the salad dressing ahead of time, then assemble the rest of the salad right before serving.
If you’re bringing this to a holiday potluck or family feast, check out my favorite Thanksgiving hostess gift guide, or Holiday Christmas Hostess Guide for a thoughtful & affordable gift for your host.
And browse all our low sodium holiday recipes here!
Browse More Low Sodium Salad Ideas You’ll Love!
Low Sodium Cucumber Salad Recipe (No Salt Added)
No Salt Added Chicken Salad Recipe
Low Sodium Coleslaw Recipe (No Salt Added!)
Low Sodium Potato Salad Recipe (No Salt Added)
Share This Low Sodium Apple Nut Salad
As always, if you make this low sodium salad recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag us on Instagram or Facebook. And please feel free to share with your Facebook groups or friends!
Let’s keep in touch – don’t forget to follow over on Instagram, Facebook, & my Youtube channel for more amazing low sodium recipes – I’d love to connect with you there!
Low Sodium Apple Walnut Salad
Equipment
- Serving Bowl
- Mason jar, or small mixing bowl
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 5 ounces mixed greens washed
- 1 apple diced
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- Garnishes optional, you can use low sodium croutons (recipe linked below in Notes), extra nuts or seeds, or chopped apples
For the Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the mixed greens, apple, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
- To a mason jar, add all the dressing ingredients together. Seal with airtight lid and shake well to combine.
- Right before serving, pour the dressing over the salad, and toss well to combine. Garnish with extra chopped apples and walnuts if desired, low sodium croutons, or your favorite low sodium salad topper - enjoy!
Notes
Garnish/Salad Topper Ideas
If you're looking for a few extra add-ins to this salad, here are some of my favorites!- Low sodium croutons - which I make by tossing low so bread with olive oil, fresh garlic, and garlic powder for a kick!
- Unsalted seeds/nuts - I actually added a spoonful of hemp hearts to my salad (the little white specks in the pictures) but I love unsalted sunflower seeds or nuts for added crunch.
- Dried fruit
- Black pepper - coarsely ground black pepper makes a lovely garnish, and adds a lot of flavor!
Nutrition
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used, it may vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify sodium amounts.
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Love this salad