Description

This Simple Celery Salad, also known as Waldorf Apple Salad, is a fresh and crunchy combination of celery, crisp green apples, romaine lettuce, cheese, grapes, nuts, and dried barberries, all dressed in a light olive oil and lime juice dressing. It’s a refreshing, easy-to-make salad perfect as a light meal, side dish, or part of a picnic or potluck spread.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

10 celery stalks
1 green apple (any crisp apple will work)
2 romaine lettuce leaves
2 oz cheese (parmesan, blue cheese, or feta)
1/2 cup grapes (or sultanas)
1/4 cup walnuts (or pecans/almonds)
2 Tbsp dried barberries (or cranberries, pomegranate, cherries, sultanas, dates)

Dressing Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp lime juice (or lemon juice)
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Chop the Ingredients: Wash the celery stalks and remove any stringy fibrous parts either manually or with a vegetable peeler for a smoother texture. Finely slice the celery into thin pieces. Chop the green apple into thin slices or cubes according to your preference. Shred the romaine lettuce leaves finely. Mince the garlic clove.
Combine the Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the finely sliced celery, chopped apple, shredded lettuce, grapes, cheese pieces, dried barberries, and nuts. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, black pepper, and salt to make the dressing.
Toss the Salad: Pour the dressing over the combined salad ingredients and gently toss everything together until well coated. Alternatively, you can mix the dressing separately and serve the salad over a bed of lettuce for a different presentation.
Serve: Serve the salad immediately for the freshest taste. It works well on its own or as part of a picnic, potluck, or alongside your favorite protein.
Store: Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The salad may become watery over time; drain excess liquid before serving. For best texture, keep nuts separate and add just before serving. To avoid apple discoloration, toss apple pieces with a little lemon or lime juice before mixing into the salad. You can prepare salad and dressing separately ahead and combine just before eating to extend freshness.

Notes

For a smoother celery texture, carefully remove the fibrous strings on celery with a vegetable peeler or by hand.
You can substitute dried barberries with cranberries, cherries, pomegranate seeds, sultanas, or dates based on your preference.
Cheese options include parmesan, blue cheese, or feta to vary flavor profiles.
Keep nuts separate during storage to prevent them from becoming soft and add them just before serving.
Toss sliced apples with lemon or lime juice immediately to prevent browning.
Salad can be made ahead by storing the salad and dressing separately and combining just before serving.
This salad is best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated for 2-3 days with some texture and flavor adjustments upon storage.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: celery salad, Waldorf salad, apple celery salad, fresh celery salad, no cook salad, vegetarian salad, healthy salad