Fruit and cheese. For the longest time, I couldn’t grasp the concept. Growing up, I was never on board with the whole cottage cheese and canned peaches combo. So obviously, I never knew that pairing apples and cheese was a thing, until I had the most amazing salad at my favorite restaurant, Acqua.
My husband and I go to this restaurant every year on our anniversary. Our first time there was a bit…foggy. I had a 2-week-old baby boy whom I left with grandma for the first time. And, that was probably the second time I’d left the house since he was born. Other significant milestones achieved there included me drinking my first glass of wine in 9 months, eating my first uninterrupted meal in 2 weeks, and having my first taste of this Spiralized Apple and Parmesan Salad.
The Acqua version isn’t spiralized, and it’s a bit fancier, of course. But, I thought I’d give the spiralizer a try on fruit, for a change. As with all my spiralizer recipes, no worries if you don’t own one. Use a mandolin or knife to chop the apples into matchsticks. Or an even easier option is to simply chop them into small cubes.
The lemon dressing is so simple and fresh. And those crisp apple noodles soak it up like a sponge. But the best addition to the salad is, you guessed it, the CHEESE. Those apples are craving to be eaten with the nutty, tangy Parmesan cheese. Finish with a sprinkle of chives for a slight onion-y flavor and you’ve got yourself a sweet, tart, salty, and tangy salad. It’s a perfect starter to any meal or a wonderful fall side dish to pair with a hot main dish.
I recommend using The Inspiralizer to spiralize the apples used in this recipe!
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using any of the links.
- 4 medium apples (try a sweet and crisp variety like Pink Lady or Honey Crisp)
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup finely chopped chives
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ clove garlic
- Dash of salt and pepper
- Cut the apple into thin noodles using a spiralizer. If you don’t own a spiralizer, use a mandolin or knife to cut the apples into matchsticks. Add the apples, parmesan cheese, and chives to a large bowl and toss together.
- To make the dressing, combine all dressing ingredients in a blender or whisk in a bowl. Add the dressing to the apple mixture and toss until the apples are coated in the dressing.
Nutrition Information (per serving) from Caloriecount.about.com
Calories: 171 Fat: 5.9g Carb: 26.8g Fiber: 5g Protein: 4.8g Sugar 19.4g Sodium: 96mg
Hi! I'm Krista, a self-proclaimed vegetable lover who likes to put a creative spin on healthy cooking. Here you'll find a variety of lightened up recipes using fresh and wholesome ingredients! 
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