Apple Gorgonzola Salad Recipe {Buca Di Beppo Copy-Cat} (2024)

After having this savory, sweet and zesty gorgonzola salad with apple at Buca Di Beppo a few times I knew I had to make it at home. It is a perfect blend of flavors and textures. After some recipe testing, I came up with this apple gorgonzola salad recipe which tastes just about as good as the salad at the restaurant.

Why This Recipe Works

It’s all about the flavors! The salad is savory, sweet with just a touch of zestiness from the dijon mustard.

The different textures of the crunchy nuts, apples, and romaine lettuce are the perfect counterpart to the creamy gorgonzola cheese.

It’s easy to make at home so you can enjoy this copycat Buca di Beppo salad anytime you have a craving.

What I love the most, is that this apple gorgonzola salad recipe appears and tastes so amazing but it goes together super quickly. I love to serve it up for dinner with my favorite smoked turkey breast or instant pot bone-in chicken. For groups, it's fun to have a large bowl of it as a side dish along with a delicious bowl of soup.

About the Ingredients

There are a few things you need to make this salad:

• Romaine lettuce: Gives the salad a nice crunchy base. Though it won’t be an authentic copycat, it also works with other greens such as spinach, kale, or spring mix.
• Crumbled gorgonzola: A specific type of blue cheese from Italy that is aged between 2 and 6 months. This cow milk cheese has a very distinct strong flavor and a soft, creamy texture.
• Green apples: Green apples, specifically granny smith apples, give this salad a tart flavor and crisp texture that you often can’t find in other apples. Swap them out with fresh pears for a pear gorgonzola salad.
• Red onions: The perfect onion to use for fresh salads, just be sure they’re sliced thin so they don’t overpower the salad.
• Dried cranberries: For color and more tart flavors in the salad.
• Candied Pecans: The finishing touch on this apple and gorgonzola salad that brings all the flavors together and really makes it shine.

Then, of course, the homemade vinaigrette dressing. Making a homemade mustard vinaigrette is key to the freshness of the salad. It is so simple to make, so suppress the urge to buy a store-bought dressing. You throw everything in a blender and you are done in seconds.

All you need is:

• Olive oil: For salads, your best option is extra virgin olive oil.
• Apple cider vinegar: This mild vinegar provides just a touch of acid to the apple walnut gorgonzola salad. You can also use white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar which also tends to have a softer flavor.
• Red onion and Garlic: Aromatics for flavor.
• Dijon mustard: Make sure you use real dijon mustard which has a sharper, slightly zesty flavor that other mustards are missing.
• Oregano, salt, and pepper: Just a few additional seasonings to round out the flavors.

As far as the candied Walnuts? There is a fabulous recipe here on the blog for cinnamon pecans which I used as inspiration in this recipe. I used walnuts but you can also use pecans if you prefer them! You can also opt for store bought glazed walnuts.

Expert Tips

Add the dressing right before serving to prevent a soggy salad.

Make sure all the water is drained from washing the romaine lettuce assembling the salad. Excess water will dilute the flavor of the dressing.

Squeeze some lemon juice over the apple to keep it from turning brown if the salad will sit before serving.

Apple Gorgonzola Salad Recipe FAQ

More Delicious Salad Recipes

Turn this side salad into a main course by adding slices of grilled chicken or grilled shrimp or serve it up as a side with a bowl of cauliflower cheese soup for a simple lunch combination.

• Summer Strawberry Caprese Salad
• Arugula Salad with Lemon and Feta Cheese
• Stone Fruit Grilled Salad

Stay In Touch

If you tried this Buca di Beppo copycat salad or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget torate the recipeand leave us a comment below. You can also follow us onFacebook,Twitter,InstagramandPinterestto see what else we’re getting up to!