Thinly sliced fennel, celery, and Honeycrisp apple come together to create a salad that’s all texture: crisp, crunchy, and snappy. A bright dressing and Parmesan shavings add richness, making it an easy palate-cleasing dish.
The great thing about a neutral, simple salad is that it works alongside almost anything, from roast chicken and grilled fish to lasagnas and holiday spreads. Because the ingredients are sturdy, it also holds up better than leafy salads, making it a practical choice for entertaining.
This fennel, celery, and apple salad is really just one big bowl of crunchy elements tossed together with a bright, citrusy dressing. For a Mediterranean-inspired dinner, I like serving it alongside charred tomatoes with yogurt, kebapi, and couscous.
An Antioxidant-Rich Salad
This refreshing salad is loaded with antioxidants. Fennel is a great source of vitamin C, and celery is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, helping reduce cancer risk and lower inflammation. Honeycrisp apples are rich in fiber and antioxidants. So this salad is basically a natural way of cleansing your body!
Start by trimming and coring the fennel. This is arguably the most difficult part; everything from here on out is extremely easy. If you need some help with that, here’s a great video on how to cut up fennel.
I like to finely slice my ingredients, both for visuals and for optimal taste. But finely cutting up fennel and apples is a rather tedious task, so a mandoline does the job much quicker and more uniformly.
For more crunch and a nutty touch, I sometimes like to add walnuts or slivered almonds. You’ll notice this salad is known for its short ingredient list and lack of fresh herbs, but there’s always room for them. Any tender herb like basil, chives, or parsley would work well here.
As for the dressing, it’s a classic basic vinaigrette that is meant to enhance and brighten the flavors in the salad. Finish it off with plenty of Parmesan shavings – you can also try blue cheese crumbles.
The Ingredients
Fennel
Fennel brings a subtle anise flavor and a crisp texture. Slicing it very thinly softens its bite while keeping its refreshing crunch.
Honeycrisp Apple
Honeycrisp apples add sweetness and acidity. Their firm texture mirrors the fennel and celery, creating a salad where every ingredient contributes crunch.
Celery
Celery provides freshness and a savory note that balances the fruit and fennel.
Parmesan
Parmesan shavings add richness and depth. A vegetable peeler works well for creating large, delicate pieces.
Olive Oil and Lemon Juice
The dressing is intentionally simple. Lemon juice brightens the vegetables and fruit, while olive oil rounds out the flavors.
How to Slice the Vegetables
Much of the texture of this salad depends on thin slicing.
- Trim and core the fennel before slicing it as thinly as possible.
- Slice the apple into thin wedges.
- Finely slice the celery.
A mandoline can make quick work of the fennel and apple, but a sharp knife works just as well.
FAQs
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes. You can slice the vegetables several hours in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator. For the best texture and freshness, assemble and dress the salad just before serving.
What can I use instead of Parmesan?
Pecorino Romano, Manchego, goat cheese, or blue cheese are all great alternatives and will add their own unique flavor to the salad.
What apples work best in this salad?
Honeycrisp apples are my favorite because they’re crisp with a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Pink Lady, Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith apples also work well.
If you make this Celery, Fennel and Apple Salad please be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
More Easy Salads
Zucchini Salad with Garlic Lemon Olive Oil and Walnuts: Raw zucchini sliced thin and dressed with garlic, lemon, and olive oil, finished with toasted walnuts for crunch. A simple, fresh salad with a clean, sharp flavor.
Spring Chicken Salad: Roasted chicken mixed with crisp spring vegetables and a light creamy dressing. Light, fresh, and super easy.
Cantaloupe Salad with Radishes, Cucumbers & Parmesan: Cantaloupe combined with cucumbers and radishes, finished with Parmesan and a light dressing. A sweet and savory salad with crisp texture.
Citrus Salad with Fennel and Radish: Citrus slices with thinly sliced fennel and radish, lightly dressed. Bright, crisp, and very fresh with a sharp finish.
Celery, Fennel and Apple Salad
Ingredients
Equipment
- Mandoline
Salad:
- 1 bulb fennel, trimmed, halved, cored, and thinly sliced
- 1 Honeycrisp apple, halved, cored, and thinly sliced
- 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced on the diagonal
Dressing:
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper
To serve:
- Parmesan shavings
- Toasted walnuts, chopped optional
- Fresh herbs (basil, parsley, or chives), optional
Instructions
- Make the dressing: whisk the olive oil and lemon juice in a small bowl or measuring cup, and season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine fennel, apple, celery, and walnuts if using. Add the dressing and toss to coat evenly.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Top with Parmesan shavings and fresh herbs. Serve.
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