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The Flexitarian » Recipe » Fennel and Apple Salad

Fennel and Apple Salad

5 from 1 vote

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This fennel & apple salad is a light, refreshing dish that perfectly balances crisp textures and sweet, tangy flavours. Thinly sliced fennel and crunchy apples are tossed in a zesty lemon dressing, making it a vibrant addition to any meal. Simple yet elegant, it pairs beautifully with roasted dishes or works as a standalone starter. Fresh, crunchy, and full of flavour, it’s the perfect salad for any season!

close up fennel and apple salad

Fresh & Crunchy Fennel & Apple Salad

With its satisfying crunch, this fennel and apple salad combines the mild licorice sweetness of fennel with the tartness of apples. Tossed in a zingy lemon vinaigrette, it is topped with walnuts and freshly chopped parsley.

This is the perfect salad if you are looking for a refreshing and tasty side dish or just a light meal. It also makes for a great addition to a picnic or barbecue.

A staple of Mediterranean cuisines, fennel is one of the most underrated vegetables and I feel that it deserves a lot more attention. It has a distinctive mild anise flavour (similar to licorice) and can be eaten raw or cooked. It is also sometimes used as seasoning. The bulb, stalks, and fronds are all edible.

Fennel pairs really well with cheeses like goat cheese, Gorgonzola, and Parmesan. It is also delicious with beans and pulses, as well as mushrooms and oranges.

What to pair this salad with

This fennel and apple salad is versatile enough to be eaten on its own or as a side to a wide range of dishes. Here are some serving suggestions:

  • As a Light Lunch: Serve the salad on its own or with a slice of crusty bread.
  • Alongside Grilled Proteins: Pair with grilled tofu, tempeh, or your favourite protein.
  • Holiday Feasts: This salad makes an excellent addition to buffets or holiday spreads, offering a light contrast to heavier dishes.
  • Mediterranean Spread: Include it in a mezze platter with hummus, olives, and pita bread for a Mediterranean-inspired feast.

Don’t hesitate to also serve this fennel and apple salad alongside my Heirloom Tomato Salad, Courgette and Feta Böreks, Veggie Tarts, Garlic & Tomato Pasta, Crustless Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice Quiche, Mediterranean Orzo Bake, vegan potato salad or Mediterranean Tomato Tart.

Common questions about this fennel and apple salad

What sort of apples work best?

I like to use a mix of tart and sweet apples for this salad. Varieties of tart apples include Granny Smith, Braeburn, Pink Lady and McIntosh (US). Varieties of sweet apples include Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, and Red Delicious.

Can I prepare this salad in advance?

Yes, you can prepare it a couple of hours in advance. The acidity of the lemon vinaigrette will prevent the apples from browning. Leftovers can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a day or two.

Can I add other ingredients to this salad?

Yes you can easily customise this salad by adding rocket, watercress, shaved Parmesan, Gorgozonla or feta cheese. You can also swap the parsley for dill and the walnuts for almonds.

Can I swap the honey with maple syrup?

Absolutely, if you prefer a vegan alternative to honey, maple syrup is a great alternative to sweeten the lemon dressing.

fennel and apple salad

Watch out to make this fennel and apple salad recipe

YouTube video

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In this post

  • Fresh & Crunchy Fennel & Apple Salad
  • What to pair this salad with
  • Common questions about this fennel and apple salad
  • Watch out to make this fennel and apple salad recipe
  • Top tip: how to cut fennel for salad
    • Trim the fennel
    • Slice the fennel
  • How to make this fennel and apple salad
    • Ingredients:
    • Step 1: Make the dressing
    • Step 2: Slice the fennel and apples
    • Step 3: Combine all together
    • Step 4: Toss in the dressing
    • Step 5: Serve
  • Other recipes you might like

Top tip: how to cut fennel for salad

When preparing fennel for salad, you do need to trim it first to remove any hard-to-chew parts and make sure you slice it as thinly as possible

Trim the fennel

Fennel bulbs tend to have a tough bottom part, tender middle, and fibrous stalks and fronds.

You can easily remove (and discard) the tough bottom part by cutting off a thin slice from the base of the fennel bulb. The fronds also need to be trimmed off and can be reused as garnish.

The green fibrous stalks can either be trimmed or sliced very thinly with the rest of the fennel bulb so they become tendre.

Slice the fennel

Thin slices are best for salad and this can be achieved by either using a very sharp knife or a mandoline slicer. I tend to favour using a mandoline slicer as it is quicker and cuts slices of even thickness.

How to make this fennel and apple salad

Ingredients:

To make this salad, you will need: 2 small fennel bulbs, 1 tart apple (Granny Smith or similar), 1 sweet apple (red delicious, Honeycrisp or similar), some walnuts, and a handful of freshly chopped parsley.


For the lemon vinaigrette you will need some Dijon mustard, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic clove, honey, plus salt and pepper.

Step 1: Make the dressing

Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or jar and season to taste with honey, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

lemon vinaigrette

Step 2: Slice the fennel and apples

Using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer, cut the fennel and apples into thin slices. Reserve the fennel fronds to decorate the salad.

slicing fennel with mandoline

Step 3: Combine all together

In a salad bowl, combine the fennel and apples with the walnuts and parsley.

unmixed fennel and apple salad

Step 4: Toss in the dressing

Toss everything in the lemon vinaigrette.

adding dressing to fennel and apple salad

Step 5: Serve

Decorate the salad with the reserved fennel fronds and serve.

fennel and apple salad in bowl

I hope you enjoy this fennel and apple salad recipe as much as I do. If you do make it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!

fennel and apple salad

Fennel and Apple Salad

Tossed in a zingy lemon vinaigrette, this crispy fennel and apple salad combines the mild licorice sweetness of fennel with the tartness of apples.
5 from 1 vote
DieTARY CHOICEDairy-Free Recipes, Egg-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, High Fibre Recipes, Nut-Free Recipes, Raw Recipes, Soya-Free Recipes, Vegan Recipes
Print Recipe Add to Shopping ListAdd to Shopping List Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Salads
Cuisine English
Servings 6 servings
Calories 208 kcal

Equipment

1 mandoline or a sharp knife
1 salad bowl
1 small mixing bowl

Disclaimer: the equipment list above includes affiliate links to products I use and like.

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 small fennel bulbs
  • 1 tart apple (Granny Smith or similar)
  • 1 sweet apple (red delicious, Honeycrisp or similar)
  • 50 g walnuts
  • 1 handful freshly chopped parsley

FOR THE LEMON VINAIGRETTE

  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 lemon zest
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 1 Tbsp clear honey, to taste
  • salt and pepper, to taste
(Switch on to prevent your screen from going dark)

Instructions
 

  • Make the dressing: Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or jar and season to taste with honey, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
    2 tsp Dijon mustard, 4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/2 lemon zest, 1 garlic clove, grated, salt and pepper, to taste, 1 Tbsp clear honey, to taste
  • Using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer, cut the fennel and apples into thin slices. Reserve the fennel fronds to decorate the salad.
    2 small fennel bulbs, 1 tart apple (Granny Smith or similar), 1 sweet apple (red delicious, Honeycrisp or similar)
  • In a salad bowl, combine the fennel and apples with the walnuts and parsley
    50 g walnuts, 1 handful freshly chopped parsley
  • Toss everything in the lemon vinaigrette.
  • Decorate the salad with the reserved fennel fronds and serve.

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 208kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 61mgPotassium: 441mgFiber: 5gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 197IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg
Keyword apple, fennel, salad

Find this recipe online:

Fennel and Apple Salad

https://theflexitarian.co.uk/recipe-items/fennel-apple-salad/

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Leave a review in the comments below! or share it on Instagram tagging @theflexitarianuk.

I cannot wait to see your posts!

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  • Fennel & Asparagus Soup [vegan]
  • Roasted Red Cabbage Salad
  • 10 Vegetarian Apple Recipes
  • Peach, Fennel & Goat Cheese Salad [vegetarian] [gluten free]
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Recipe July 19, 2024 · Created by: The Flexitarian Leave a Comment

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