Ruby Tuesday Apple Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing
Crisp apples, toasted pecans, and tart cranberries tossed with diced celery in a tangy sour cream and mayonnaise dressing. Served over butterhead lettuce, this fresh salad balances sweet and savory notes with a cool, creamy finish ideal for lunch or light dinners.
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 Granny Smith apple, rinsed and diced
- 1 Gala or Fuji apple, rinsed and dicedHoneycrisp1:1produce
crunchier
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup pecans, chopped
- ¼ cup celery, rinsed and diced
- butterhead lettuce, for serving(optional)mixed greens1:1producedairy-free
varied texture
Instructions
- 1
Whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
- 2
Rinse and dice celery, then set aside.
- 3
Chop pecans and set aside.
- 4
Rinse and dice Granny Smith apple and set aside.
- 5
Rinse and dice Fuji or Gala apple and set aside.
- 6
Combine all prepped ingredients in a large salad bowl.
- 7
Remove dressing from fridge and add to the bowl.
- 8
Toss until well combined.
- 9
Serve on butterhead lettuce leaves.
Tips
Refrigerate dressing before combining with other ingredients to keep salad cool.
Dice apples just before combining to prevent browning, or toss with extra lemon juice.
Toast pecans in a dry skillet for enhanced flavor.
Good to Know
Keep covered in airtight container up to 2 days. Dressing and salad components may be stored separately up to 3 days and tossed before serving.
Prepare dressing and chop all ingredients up to 8 hours prior. Refrigerate components separately. Combine and toss within 30 minutes of serving.
Arrange butterhead lettuce on individual plates or platter, then top with dressed salad mixture. Serve immediately while cool and crisp.
Common Mistakes
Do not toss more than necessary to avoid bruising delicate lettuce and apples.
Do not combine all ingredients before refrigerating dressing to prevent wilting.
Do not dice apples more than 15 minutes before serving to avoid oxidative browning.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
varied texture
General Alternatives
crunchier