A light and tangy Apple Fennel Salad with thinly sliced apples, celery, and fennel topped with walnuts and parmesan.
Apple Fennel Salad
I took a trip to Italy earlier this year and came away so inspired by all the different foods I ate while there. This apple and fennel salad is a recreation of one of the most surprisingly tasty things I ate in Italy. Surprising in a good way of course 🙂
In one of the cooking classes my husband and I attended, we watched as the instructor made a variation of this salad. The entire time I thought, I won’t love this one — mostly because fennel is not my favorite. But when it came time to eat it, I was obsessed — I couldn’t get enough. The flavors complement each other so well that this salad even converted me to liking fennel.
Now, many months later, and after making this recipe way too many times, I’m sharing it here 🙂
Good ingredients make a huge difference
With recipes that require so few ingredients, the ingredients use make such a big difference. For this apple fennel salad, the olive oil makes the biggest difference. Since the dressing on this salad is really only 2 ingredients — olive oil and lemon (plus salt and pepper), the better the olive oil, the better the flavor. With good, extra virgin olive oil, you’ll be shocked how good the “dressing” is for only having 2 ingredients.
Apple fennel salad tips
This apple fennel salad is so easy to make, but here are a few tips to get it tasting its best.
- Emulsify the oil. To do this combine the lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil in a mason jar and shake it until well combined.
- Use a mandoline slicer. The fennel bulb, apples, and celery all get sliced very thing, giving this salad a great texture with a variation of flavors in each bite. Using a mandolin slice ensures everything is uniformly and consistently cut. We want paper thin apple and fennel pieces for this salad.
- Toast the walnuts. Toasting the walnuts adds so much flavor to this salad. If I’m pressed for time, I’ll often buy toasted or candied walnuts from the grocery store.
Apple fennel salad storage notes
- This salad doesn’t sit well, so avoid making it too far in advance. While the lemon juice will delay the apple from browning too quickly, I wouldn’t recommend making this salad more than 30 minutes in advance.
- This salad is best with very cold ingredients so make sure to stick the fennel, apple, and celery in the fridge for a few hours before preparing this salad.
- Add the walnuts and cheese right bfore serving to keep both these toppings from getting soggy.
Pair this apple fennel salad with one of these main dishes:
- Pepperoni Saporiti pasta with a sweet bell pepper sauce
- Stuffed Shells with Sausage comforting and hearty pasta dish
- Bruschetta Chicken balsamic grilled chicken
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs with mozzarella cheese
- Italian Sausage Orzo Soup with lots of veggies
Apple Fennel Salad
Equipment
- Mandolin slicer
Ingredients
Instructions
- Juice the lemon using a citrus juicer to get 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Set aside.
- In a mason jar, add the freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil. Add salt and pepper. Put on the lid and shake to combine until dressing is emulsified. Adjust salt, pepper, and lemon to taste. If your lemon isn't very ripe, you might want a bit more juice. See note 1.
- Using a mandolin slicer, thinly slice the fennel bulb. Cut the apples in half and then half again. Remove the core and then thinly slice all the apples with the mandolin. Thinly slice the celery with the mandolin. Add the fennel, apple, and celery to a large bowl.
- Gently toss the salad with the dressing. Right before serving add the roasted walnuts and freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano PDO. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Yes, I made the recipe. Thought it was a bit bland but realized I forgot the salt and pepper!
The salt and pepper definitely make a HUGE difference! 🙂
Can you cut recipe for 2 people
Sure!
I made a few additions:
Added honey & Apple cider vinegar to emulsified lemon and EVOO.
Omitted celery and cheese because I am lactose intolerant.
Added strawberries for color and texture.
Substituted toasted almond slices.
Love the pairing of apples and fennel.
Sounds amazing! 🙂
Random question — can you share where you bought the oval serving dish for this recipe? It’s so simple and beautiful!
I actually got it at Smith’s! (My local Kroger store)
To be honest this is the first time I have read about apple salad and I am gonna try for sure.
You have to try it! Life changing! Thanks Roveena! 🙂
I’m making this tonight but know there will be left overs. You said it doesn’t sit well. Any tips for keeping it well for lunch tomorrow? I’ll keep the nuts and cheese on the side but will the dressing keep it from browning? How mushy will it het?
You should be fine to keep it overnight if you have the dressing on it and keep those ingredients on the side! I hope you enjoy! 🙂
Such a amazing post.
Thank you Daniel!! 🙂
Where do you buy the Toscano PGI Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
Hey Lisa! I got it at my local Kroger store (Smiths) near all the olive oils!
I got to live in Italy for three years and it changed my life! I had a similar experience; not liking certain foods and then loving them after being prepared with an Italian appreciation and technique. You and I could probably talk for hours about Italy and their food. I still plan on returning to attend a culinary school there. And this recipe sounds amazing! Can’t wait to show it to my mom!
Ahhh what an amazing experience! I am soooo jealous! I could seriously talk about my experience and food for hours too! And oh my gosh how cool would it be to attend culinary school there! AMAZING!!! But seriously you guys have to try this one!
I’ve actually never had/bought fennel before, but I’m excited to try it! 🙂
Yay!! I hope you enjoy! 🙂
This is absolutely delicious. Fresh and bright flavors the marry perfectly. We used pistachios, because that’s what we had and it worked well and looked nice.
So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂