Apple Pear Cucumber Salad

Chef Kate's Note:

This crunchy, sweet and tangy salad mixes familiar fruits and veggies with a whole grain mustard dressing and apple cider vinegar. From Whole Foods.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

For the Dressing

• 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped (or 2 tsp dried)
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

For the Salad

• 2 tart apples, crunchy (Gala, Pink Lady, Braeburn)
• 1 pear (Anjou, Bartlett, etc.)
• 1 seedless cucumber (or seeded)
• 1 small sweet onion

Directions:

1. For the Dressing:.
2. Mix together the mustard, dill, vinegar, sugar and olive oil. Set aside.
3. For the Salad:.
4. Core and slice apples and pears into thin slices, leaving skin on for color and flavor.
5. Slice cucumber into rounds (if using cucumber with seeds, cut in half lengthwise, scrape out seeds, and cut into half moon slices).
6. If cucumber is waxed, peel it; otherwise leave skin on.
7. Slice onion any way you like.
8. Add all to bowl with dressing and toss to coat.

Reviews

[Chef Smig52]

4 1/2 stars! I made a couple of modifications based on what I had (OK a lot). Substituted rice wine vinegar for the cider, and substituted Dijon for whole grain mustard, and used honey for the brown sugar. I also used only pears and pineapple. This may have changed the whole flavor of the dish but I really liked how the light acidity, complemented the sweetness of the fruit and how the mustard emulsified the oil for the dressing, and the dill added that unexpected flair of flavor. Delicious!

[chriscre]

Lacked a little something, I added a bit more brown sugar dash of salt.

[Barbara's cooking again]

I like the idea of this salad but it was not as sweet as I had imagined. It was actually more tart. I will make it again but add more of some kind of sweetener. Three of my 10 guests raved about it. I imagine there is some variation in sweetness depending on how sweet the fruit is.