Dessert

Simple Celery Apple Salad With Lemon Dressing Recipe

Bymia larkspur December 20, 2025December 20, 2025

Introduction

This Simple Celery Apple Salad with Lemon Dressing is a refreshing, crisp, and flavorful dish perfect for a light lunch or a side. Its combination of crunchy celery, sweet apples, and creamy gruyere cheese, all tossed in a zesty lemon vinaigrette, makes it a delightful and easy-to-make salad.

A close-up view of a woman's hand holding a sharp knife slicing a fresh apple into thin, even wedges on a wooden cutting board. The apple pieces show a smooth, pale yellow inside with a thin red skin edge, arranged in small stacks. In the background, more apple slices and a whole apple rest slightly out of focus. The texture of the wood contrasts with the crispness of the apple slices. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 large bunch celery
2 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp)
1/2 cup gruyere cheese, shaved
Salt and pepper, to taste

Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 lemon, juice only
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the lemon vinaigrette by combining olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar. Whisk or shake well to blend, then set aside.
Step 2: Trim any brown or damaged ends from the celery stalks, then slice them into thin, bite-sized pieces. Chop the celery leaves if they are fresh to use as garnish.
Step 3: Using a vegetable peeler, shave the gruyere cheese into thin slices.
Step 4: Core the apples, slice them thinly, and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
Step 5: In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped celery, apple pieces, shaved gruyere, and celery greens.
Step 6: Give the dressing another quick whisk and pour it over the salad. Season with salt and pepper, then toss gently to mix everything well.
Step 7: Serve the salad immediately for the best texture and flavor.

Tips & Variations

Use crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.
Substitute gruyere with parmesan or aged cheddar for a different flavor profile.
Add toasted walnuts or pecans for extra texture and nuttiness.
Prepare the dressing in advance and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Storage

This salad is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. To prevent the apples from browning, toss them in a little lemon juice before mixing. When ready to eat, give the salad a quick toss and enjoy cold or at room temperature; reheating is not recommended.

How to Serve

A wooden bowl filled with a fresh salad made of three main layers: bright green chopped celery pieces at the base, thin red and white apple slices mixed throughout the celery, and pale yellow cheese slices scattered on top. The salad is sprinkled with small pieces of celery leaves and ground black pepper, adding texture and color contrast. Two silver salad serving spoons rest on the right side of the bowl. Surrounding the bowl on a white marbled texture are a bunch of celery stalks, a halved lemon, a small white bowl with more cheese slices, a reddish apple, and a small bowl with olive oil and a fork. A light gray cloth lies near the bottom right of the wooden bowl. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Yes, feel free to use similar semi-hard cheeses like parmesan, cheddar, or manchego to suit your taste preferences.

How do I keep the apples from browning?

Toss the apple pieces with a little lemon juice as soon as they are cut. This helps slow down the oxidation process and keeps them looking fresh longer.