Go Back
Print
Apple Walnut Cranberry Gorgonzola Salad Recipe

Italian Salad

A delightful salad for a side dish or complete meal. Tart green apples, sweet cranberries, spiced candied walnuts, and bold gorgonzola on a bed of italian romaine with oil and vinegar dressing. Sure to please your family and friends!

Course Salad
Cuisine Italian
Keyword candied walnuts, italian salad dressing
Servings 6

Ingredients

CANDIED SPICED WALNUTS

  • 7 oz. walnuts
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 1/2 tbsp sucanat or brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch ground allspice

ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING

  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme
  • pinch celery seed can sub celery flakes

ITALIAN SALAD

  • 10 oz. bag of pre-washed italian greens romaine, frisee, raddicchio
  • 2 large green apples diced
  • 8 oz. candied spiced walnuts
  • 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • 4 oz. gorgonzola cheese crumbled
  • 1/4 cup italian oil and vinegar dressing

Instructions

CANDIED SPICED WALNUTS**

  1. **If using store-bought glazed walnuts, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon and pinch of allspice into the bag and shake. Then use in the salad.

    Candied Walnuts
  2. Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees F.

  3. To make your own candied spiced walnuts, melt butter and sucanat in saucepan on medium-low heat. Stir until melted and combined.

  4. Add honey, cinnamon and allspice. Stir to combine. Remove from heat.

  5. Pour the mixture over the walnuts and stir them gently to coat. Next, spread them on a large silpat- or parchment-lined baking pan in one layer. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. 

  6. Let cool in pan. Break apart nuts by hand. Store leftovers in airtight container.

ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING**

  1. **If using store-bought dressing, choose one that has vinegar and oil as main ingredients with italian spices. I like Paul Newmans Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing.

  2. To make your own dressing, mix up extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar and the spices: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, dried parsley, sea salt, black pepper, thyme, and celery seed in a pint mason jar. Shake to mix it up. Store in pantry.

APPLE WALNUT CRANBERRY GORGONZOLA SALAD

  1. Toss lettuce greens, diced green apple, candied spiced walnuts, dried cranberries, and crumbled gorgonzola in large bowl with 1/4 cup of the italian oil and vinegar dressing.

    Apple Walnut Cranberry Gorgonzola Salad Recipe