This creamy and tangy Fennel Apple Salad with Goat Cheese Dressing is a fresh, crunchy side dish you can whip up quickly, or make ahead! With a blended goat cheese dressing, crisp honey crisp apples and crunchy pecans this salad makes a great quick and easy side dish for dinner or holiday brunch!
JUMP TO RECIPEThis Fennel Apple Salad with Goat Cheese Dressing is a light, crisp side dish! With a balance of sweet and crispy apples, fresh fennel, chopped pecans, and tangy goat cheese, this modern take on a classic apple fennel salad is great for weeknight dinners, or as a holiday side!
Table of Contents
- Why you'll love this Fennel Apple Salad
- Fennel Apple Salad Ingredients and Substitutions
- Instructions
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Serving and Storage Tips for Fennel Apple Salad
- More great salad recipes
Why you'll love this Fennel Apple Salad
Crunch factor. This salad is packed with light and crisp fennel, crunchy sweet apples, and chopped pecans, for a satisfyingly crispy side dish that pairs well with heaver dishes, since it's light and refreshing!
Tons of Flavor. With the light anise flavor of the crunchy fresh fennel, the sweet flavor of the thinly sliced apples, a mild onion flavor from the shallot, and the rich, buttery flavor of the chopped pecans- this salad is loaded with a perfect balance of flavors.
Creamy and tangy dressing. The easy blender goat cheese dressing is creamy, tangy, and perfectly balances the flavor of the fresh fennel and apples. The dressing can also be made vegan!
Fennel Apple Salad Ingredients and Substitutions
1 whole medium sized fennel bulb. You'll use the bulb, thinly sliced, and reserve the fronds for serving. I prefer to thinly slice the bulb with a madoline slicer for super thin, uniform slices. You can also thinly slice with a chef's knife. You'll be looking for uniform cuts, no greater than ¼" thick. Raw fennel has mild licorice flavor when used in raw preparations, and a crunch factor similar to celery.
Honey Crisp Apples. I LOVE Honey Crisp apples in general, and especially for this recipe. This variety of apple has a thin, palatable skin, and a crisp texture and sweet, juicy flavor. Honey crisp apples actually have larger cells than some other apples, which makes them extra juicy when you bite into them. If you can't find Honey Crisps, Gala apples or Granny Smith apples would be great substitutes.
Celery. I add 1 stalk of thinly sliced celery to the salad for a bit of extra crunch. The celery also adds a bit of earthy flavor to the salad, and balnces well with the fresh fennel.
Shallot. This recipe calls for ½ a thinly sliced shallot. This adds a mild onion flavor to the salad, and helps to balance the flavors. If you prefer, you could also use a bit of thinly sliced red onion in it's place. A little goes a long way, so don't overdo it.
Pecans. The chopped pecans add a nutty, earthy flavor to the salad, and a great textural element. If you like a bit of a sweeter flavor and crunchier texture, you could use honey roasted or glazed pecans instead. Chopped toasted walnuts also work well!
Instructions
Make the Dressing first
The dressing is super easy, thanks to your blender or immersion blender. The reason you want to prepare the dressing first, is because the salad needs to be prepared quickly, to prevent the apples from turning brown.
While you COULD dress the apples in some lemon juice and water to prevent this- I like to leave that to the lemon-infused dressing. This way, the lemony taste doesn't overpower the salad.
Prep and Assemble
Once your dressing is ready, prep your remaining ingredients, and toss everything together to coat in the tangy dressing.
At this point you can serve it right away, or chill the salad in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so it's nice and cold.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I use another type of apple?
I love a good honey crisp apple for this recipe, but you could use a pink lady apple, gala or granny smith apple instead. Avoid red delicious and McIntosh apples. These varieties are either too bland or too soft, and won't work well in the salad.
How do I keep apples from browning?
To prevent apples from browning after slicing, toss the apple slices in a bit of water mixed with lemon juice before adding to the salad.
What's the best way to cut and clean the fennel?
Fennel is perhaps more intimidating looking than it is, with its wild stalks and fronds. Here's my favorite method for cutting and cleaning a fresh fennel bulb:
Step 1: Remove the Stalks and Fronds
Slice the fennel stalks and fronds off the bulb, which is the part you'll be enjoying in the salad. Don't throw away those fronds! They make a super pretty garnish when you're plating the salad.
Step 2: Clean and Slice
Like leeks, fennel bulbs can harbor some nasty dirt in their layers. I like to remove any very dirty outer layers, then remove the tough inner core, and thinly slice the fennel. You can use a sharp knife, or a mandolin- whichever you are move comfortable with.
Once you've got your bulb sliced, toss it into a colander and rinse the fennel well under cool water. This will insure that all your fennel is super clean and ready to eat!
Can I make this salad vegan?
If you prefer a vegan version, you can use a store bought or homemade vegan goat cheese in place of the goat cheese for the dressing. You may need to add a bit more olive oil or dijon to make it creamy, as vegan cheese can be a bit drier. Dairy free Boursin cheese would also be a great option!
Serving and Storage Tips for Fennel Apple Salad
Here are some great tips for serving and storing the Apple Fennel Salad:
What to serve with the Apple Fennel Salad
This fennel apple salad makes a great holiday brunch side dish, or even a quick lunch on its own. The salad is a great quick and easy side to serve along your favorite protein as well!
Some of my favorite main dishes to serve the salad with are roast or air fryer chicken, slow roasted salmon, or some Fennel Dijon Pork Chops.
Storage
This salad is best served chilled within 30 minutes of assembly. This way, everything stays fresh and crisp, and the apples keep their beautiful color.
If you want to make the salad ahead of time, you can store undressed sliced fennel in an airtight container for up to 8 hours, then slice the apples and assemble about 30 minutes prior to serving.
To prep the apples ahead, toss them with a bit of lemon juice or lemon juice with a bit of water before storing to keep them from turning brown.
Fennel Apple Salad with Goat Cheese Dressing
Equipment
- blender or immersion blender
Ingredients
Goat Cheese Dressing
- ½ medium shallot, finely chopped (reserve other half for salad)
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- the juice of 1 medium lemon
- 4 oz goat cheese
Salad
- 1 whole medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced and well rinsed
- 2 honey crisp apples, quartered and thinly sliced
- 1 rib/stalk celery, thinly sliced
- ½ medium shallot, thinly sliced
- ½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Making the dressing: 1. Add all dressing ingredients to a blender or immersion blender cup, and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside while you make the salad. Making the Salad: 1. Slice the celery into thin slices, and add to a large mixing bowl. Remove the stems and fronds from the fennel, and set aside. Reserve some fronds for serving/garnish, if desired. 2. Thinly slice the fennel bulb with a sharp knife or a mandolin. Transfer sliced fennel to a colander and rinse well. Drain, pat dry, and add to the bowl with the celery. 3. Cut apples away from the core, and thinly slice. Add to bowl with the fennel and celery. 4. Thinly slice the shallot, and add to the bowl with the celery, fennel, and apples. 5. Add chopped pecans to the bowl. 6. Add the dressing to the bowl, and toss well to combine. Note: Transfer to a serving bowl or platter, and garnish with fennel fronds. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 8 hours prior to serving to chill.
Notes
More great salad recipes
Try my tasty Mexican Street Corn Salad with charred corn and tangy lime dressing!
Make my Watermelon Avocado Salad with Whipped Goat Cheese- a great refreshing summer salad!
Try my ultimate pot luck favorite: 6 ingredient Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheddar!
Make a great antipasta style salad with my Prosciutto Melon Salad with Burrata!
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