When something firm and crisp is wanted in salad, along with fruity flavor, apples are just the thing. They make likable combinations with more salad foods than most people ever try. Salads in this section include meat, cheese, fruits, and vegetables—even the onion, for onion lovers.
Don’t let apples darken. Raw apple when cut often darkens from exposure to air. Some nuts also make raw apple darken, especially if the fruit has come in contact with iron in a knife blade or chopper.
So, when cutting apples for salad, protect them from darkening by mixing the pieces with fruit juice—lemon, orange, grapefruit, or pineapple—before adding other ingredients. Or, mix with salad dressing at once, for a protective coating.
Some like it tart. To give a sharper tang to a salad, especially if apples are mild in flavor, use a tart oil dressing, lemon juice, or a sour cream dressing.
Jellied Waldorf salad
Mix diced tart apples, chopped celery, and nuts. Fold into a partially thickened gelatin mixture. For 2 cups of the apple mixture, use 1 package of gelatin dessert powder and 2 cups of water. Chill until firm.
Fruit salad with onion
Core unpared apples and slice in thin cross sections. Arrange on salad greens with orange slices and onion rings. Serve with a clear, tart oil dressing.
Apple slaw
Moisten equal amounts of chopped apples and finely shredded cabbage with sour-cream dressing.