Apples are one of our favorite snacks around here – whether we’re eating them plain, dipped in nut butter, or enjoying them in a baked dish! They’re absolutely one of our weekly grocery staples. I was so excited to see a box from family-owned fruit tree growing company, Stemilt Growers, waiting at the front door for me when I got home after work one day last week!
They graciously reached out beforehand, asking if we’d be up for trying their Rave® apples – a new and totally unique variety bred naturally at their Washington-based apple orchard. This apple is a cross between one of my favorites, Honeycrisp, and the MonArk variety. It’s also unique in that it’s ready to begin harvesting early – at the end of July!
Stemilt describes their Rave® apples as “outrageously juicy with a refreshing and snappy zing” and they are 100% spot-on. This apple is perfect for eating raw – as a snack, or chopped and thrown atop some yogurt, oatmeal, toast, or, a refreshing salad!
I couldn’t wait to give this beautiful fruit a try, so I got creative with what I had on hand to whip up a simple, no-frills salad that is bursting with nutrients, antioxidants, healthy fats, and, most importantly, delicious flavor and crunch.
Simple Spinach + Apple Salad
Ingredients
- Spinach
- 1 Rave® or Honeycrisp Apple
- Cranberries
- ½ Avocado
- Nuts – I used pecans, but any kind will do (walnuts, almonds, cashews…)
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
Directions
- Rinse (if needed) and chop all ingredients.
- Toss everything together, drizzle with dressing, and enjoy!
That’s it! This salad comes together so quickly and is such a light and lovely lunch. Plus, it’s so customizable. Add in some sharp white cheddar or farmhouse style cheese, try it with blackberries and a blackberry vinaigrette, get creative! I promise you won’t go back once you start adding apples atop your salads.
If you’re looking for more ideas for how to use apples that are best eaten raw (that is, when they are too crisp and/or juicy for using in baking), check out Stemilt’s blog for recipe ideas. And if you come across any of their apples this season, stock up!
We’ve been enjoying these on their own as a crunchy snack, but I think they’d be the perfect option for turning into caramel apples, or making these sweet apple nachos when the sugar-craving hits!
What are your favorite ways to eat this versatile fruit?
xo, Aly
Thank you to Stemilt Growers for partnering with us on this post!