If you’re looking for a fresh crunchy fall salad that is anything but boring, this Celery Apple Salad needs to make it’s way to your table. Crisp celery and sweet apples are tossed with chewy dates, toasted walnuts, parmesan cheese, and a lemon shallot dressing that brings everything together.
It’s simple enough to make for a weeknight dinner, but special enough to serve alongside a holiday meal or when you are entertaining.
Why You’ll Love This Celery Apple Salad
There’s something so good about the combination of crisp juicy apples and crunchy celery, no lettuce required. Add sweet dates, toasted walnuts, salty parmesan, and a bright lemon dressing, and you get a salad with plenty of texture and flavor in every bite.
Fresh and crunchy: Celery and apples give this salad plenty of crisp texture.
Sweet and savory: dates add natural sweetness while parmesan brings a salty, savory bite.
Easy to make: There’s no complicated cooking involved.
Make-ahead friendly: The components can be prepped ahead of time, making this an easy addition to dinner or entertaining.
Versatile: Serve it as a side salad or top it with your favorite protein to make a full meal out of it.
What to Serve with Celery Apple Salad
This celery apple salad recipe is delicious with grilled or roasted chicken or pork. It also makes a beautiful addition to any holiday table because the crisp apples and a bright lemon dressing create a great balance alongside richer dishes.
Can I Make This Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes! Because there is no lettuce involved, the salad will stay fresh and crisp up to a day in advance.
More Fresh Fall Salad Recipes
Ingredients to make a fall apple salad.
Date, lemon, and shallot dressing over a celery apple salad.
Ingredients:
1 Bundle of Celery, sliced thin
2 Pink Lady or Honeycrisp Apples, diced small
1 Cup Toasted Walnuts (can substitute almonds or pecans)
1/2 Cup Shaved Parmesan Cheese
For the Dressing-
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1/8 Cup Good Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Finely Diced Shallot
6 Dates, diced small
1 Tsp. Kosher Salt
1/2 Tsp, Black Pepper
1 Tbsp. Honey or Maple Syrup (optional if you want additional sweetness)
Directions:
Make the dressing by combining lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, shallot, dates, salt, and pepper into a bowl and whisk to combine. Let sit to marinate the dates and shallots into the dressing while you make the salad.
Add celery, apples, walnuts, and parmesan to a big bowl.
Add dressing to the salad and toss to combine.
Add extra parmesan to the salad if desired and serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a day before serving.
Bowl of celery apple salad.
Celery apple salad served into two bowls.
Beautiful fall salad with celery and apples perfect for any weeknight or holiday table.
Celery apple salad that is perfect for fall entertaining.
This salad is beautiful, simple, and so full of flavor. It’s anything but boring and a must make this season.
