Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Red Delicious? You can swap the apple if you want, but we recommend making this Probiotic Honeycrisp Salad no matter which fruit variety has your heart. This recipe combines a flawless mix of flavors and an impressive nutritional profile for a treat for your tastebuds and your microbiome thanks to Lifeway’s Kefir and Farmer Cheese’s probiotics. When paired with the prebiotic fibers found in the apples, lettuce, and spinach, this is one recipe your gut will enjoy as much as you do!
Lifeway Kefir and Lifeway Farmer Cheese also elevate the dish with a hefty serving of protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, while the fruits and vegetables add vitamins A, C, K, and minerals including magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium. With cultured foods, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein in every bite, this salad is the epitome of a healthy fall dish you’ll want to revisit for years to come.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 2-3 tbsp. honey
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice (about 1/4 a lemon) for the dressing
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Apples:
- 3 medium Honeycrisp apples, cored and chopped
- 1/2 a lemon for fresh lemon juice, reserved for the apples
For the Base of the Salad:
- 12 oz. spring mix (about 6 loose cups)
- 12 oz. baby spinach (about 6 loose cups)
- 1 cup pecans
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries (use unsweetened if preferred)
- 8 oz. crumbled Farmer Cheese
Directions
- In a glass jar like a mason jar (or another jar), mix together extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Plain Lowfat Lifeway Kefir, honey, lemon juice, and salt/pepper. Put the lid on tight, and shake to combine together until well incorporated. You can also mix it with a mini frother in the jar if desired.
- Drizzle the 1/2 lemon juice reserved for the apples over sliced apples and coat well (this prevents browning).
- In a large serving bowl, layer spring mix, spinach, pecans, dried cranberries, apples, and crumbled farmer cheese. Drizzle dressing over the top when ready to serve, and enjoy!
- For the freshest flavor, we recommend waiting until you're ready to serve it before pouring the dressing over the top.
- This recipe serves 6-8 normal portions. Keep any leftovers in the fridge, and make sure it stays chilled before serving.
