Savory Grape Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Creamy Bleu Cheese
This Savory Grape Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Creamy Bleu Cheese is a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors that's perfect for any occasion. With a mixture of red and green seedless grapes, crunchy walnuts, and tangy bleu cheese, this salad not only looks beautiful on a plate but also offers a delightful combination of textures. The simple dressing of honey, white wine vinegar, and olive oil enhances the natural sweetness of the grapes while providing a lovely contrast to the richness of the cheese. Ideal for a quick side dish, a refreshing appetizer, or a unique potluck offering, this salad takes less than 15 minutes to prepare. Enjoy it fresh for a burst of flavor in every bite!
8
Servings
125
Calories
8
Ingredients
Ingredients
seedless red grapes
1 lb (washed, drained, and stems removed)
seedless green grapes
1 lb (washed, drained, and stems removed)
walnuts
4 ounces (lightly toasted and broken into pieces)
bleu cheese
4 ounces (crumbled)
honey
1 tablespoon (n/a)
white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons (n/a)
olive oil
2 tablespoons (n/a)
salt
1 pinch (n/a)
Instructions
1
Firstly, thoroughly wash and drain the red and green grapes, then remove them from their stems.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the washed grapes with the lightly toasted walnut pieces.
3
Crumble the bleu cheese and add half of the crumbles to the grape and walnut mixture, gently folding them in to combine.
4
In a separate small bowl, use a fork to mix the honey, salt, and white wine vinegar together, mashing the remaining bleu cheese crumbles as you incorporate the ingredients.
5
Whisk in the olive oil until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
6
Pour the dressing over the grape mixture and gently stir to coat the grapes and nuts evenly with the dressing.
7
For best flavor, cover the salad and store it in the refrigerator for a short time before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Nutrition Information
8.75g
Fat
10g
Carbs
3.125g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Savory Grape Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Creamy Bleu Cheese?
It is a delightful salad featuring a blend of sweet red and green grapes, crunchy walnuts, and tangy bleu cheese in a honey-vinegar dressing.
How long does it take to prepare this grape salad?
This salad is very quick to make, taking less than 15 minutes to prepare from start to finish.
What types of grapes should I use?
The recipe calls for one pound of seedless red grapes and one pound of seedless green grapes.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe makes approximately 8 servings.
What are the nutritional facts per serving?
Each serving contains 125 calories, 8.75g of fat, 10g of carbohydrates, and 3.125g of protein.
What ingredients are needed for the dressing?
The dressing consists of honey, white wine vinegar, olive oil, a pinch of salt, and half of the bleu cheese crumbles.
Should the walnuts be prepared in a specific way?
Yes, the 4 ounces of walnuts should be lightly toasted and broken into pieces for the best flavor and texture.
How do I prepare the grapes before mixing?
Grapes should be thoroughly washed, drained, and removed from their stems.
Is the bleu cheese added all at once?
No, half of the crumbled bleu cheese is folded into the fruit and nut mixture, while the other half is mashed into the dressing.
What kind of vinegar is best for this salad?
White wine vinegar is recommended to provide a lovely contrast to the sweetness of the grapes.
How should the dressing be combined?
First, mix the honey, salt, vinegar, and cheese with a fork, then whisk in the olive oil until smooth.
Should I serve the salad immediately?
While it can be served fresh, storing it in the refrigerator for a short time before serving allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Is this salad suitable for a potluck?
Yes, it is an ideal unique potluck offering because it is easy to transport and quick to prepare.
Is this recipe considered healthy?
Yes, it is tagged as a healthy recipe as it primarily uses fresh fruit, nuts, and a simple olive oil-based dressing.
Can this be served as an appetizer?
Absolutely, its refreshing profile makes it a perfect appetizer or side dish.
How much bleu cheese is used in total?
The recipe requires 4 ounces of crumbled bleu cheese.
What provides the sweetness in the dressing?
One tablespoon of honey is used to enhance the natural sweetness of the grapes.
Does the recipe require any cooking?
The only heat involved is lightly toasting the walnuts; otherwise, it is a no-cook assembly recipe.
How do you achieve a smooth dressing?
By whisking the olive oil into the other liquid ingredients until the mixture is well combined and emulsified.
What texture can I expect from this salad?
The salad offers a delightful combination of juicy grapes, crunchy toasted walnuts, and creamy bleu cheese.
Is there a specific way to fold in the ingredients?
Ingredients should be gently folded and stirred to coat the grapes and nuts evenly without bruising the fruit.
Can I use seeded grapes?
The recipe specifies seedless grapes for the best eating experience, especially for a salad.
What quantity of olive oil is needed?
Two tablespoons of olive oil are required for the dressing.
How many total ingredients are in this recipe?
There are a total of 8 ingredients: red grapes, green grapes, walnuts, bleu cheese, honey, white wine vinegar, olive oil, and salt.
What is the primary flavor contrast in this dish?
The primary contrast is between the sweet grapes and honey versus the savory, tangy bleu cheese and salty walnuts.
How much salt should I add?
Just a single pinch of salt is needed for the dressing.
Is this salad gluten-free?
Based on the ingredients listed (grapes, walnuts, cheese, honey, vinegar, oil, salt), this recipe is naturally gluten-free.
How much white wine vinegar is required?
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar.
Can I substitute the walnuts?
While the recipe specifies walnuts, you could likely use other toasted nuts like pecans, though it will change the flavor profile.
What should I do after pouring the dressing over the grapes?
Gently stir the mixture to ensure the grapes and nuts are evenly coated with the dressing before chilling.