Jolly Holiday Greens: A Festive Christmas Salad Recipe

Crisp winter greens sparkle with holiday christmas salad magic, bringing vibrant colors and fresh flavors to your seasonal table.

Delicate leaves dance with tangy pomegranate seeds and toasted nuts, creating a stunning centerpiece.

Each forkful promises a delightful crunch and burst of festive cheer.

Bright red and green ingredients mingle playfully, reflecting the joyous spirit of the season.

Elegant yet simple, this salad delivers a refreshing counterpoint to heavy holiday dishes.

Packed with nutrients and festive charm, you’ll love how quickly this salad comes together.

Serve this crowd-pleasing dish and watch your guests light up with culinary delight.

How to Prepare a Colorful Christmas Bowl

• Craft the Flavor Booster

Whip up a zesty dressing by blending olive oil, tangy apple cider vinegar, sweet honey, and zingy Dijon mustard. Sprinkle in a pinch of salt and pepper to make the flavors dance. Let the mixture sit and mingle while you prepare the rest of the salad.

• Build a Festive Feast

Grab a beautiful serving bowl and create a colorful landscape of crisp mixed greens. Shower the greens with jewel-like pomegranate seeds, crisp apple slices, and ruby-red dried cranberries. Crumble creamy feta cheese over the top and scatter crunchy candied nuts for an extra festive touch.

• Bring It All Together

Just before serving, drizzle the vibrant dressing over the salad. Gently toss everything to ensure each bite is packed with holiday cheer, or offer the dressing on the side so everyone can dress their own portion. This salad bursts with seasonal flavors that will make your taste buds celebrate.

Topping Ideas to Match Holiday Flavors

• Mix crumbled blue cheese instead of feta for a sharper taste profile.
• Prepare vinaigrette and chop ingredients separately up to 24 hours in advance, storing in airtight containers to maintain freshness.
• Create a vegan version by replacing feta with roasted tofu crumbles and using maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing.
• Toast nuts briefly before adding to enhance their crunch and release deeper nutty flavors, elevating the salad's overall texture and taste experience.
• Swap apple slices with mandarin orange segments during winter months for a bright, citrusy twist that complements the pomegranate seeds.

Serve Salad That Pops on the Table

• Festive Feast Pairing: Serve this vibrant Christmas Salad alongside roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, or herb-crusted prime rib for a stunning holiday meal centerpiece.
• Cocktail Party Starter: Arrange small portions in elegant appetizer glasses or on mini plates as a sophisticated and colorful appetizer during holiday gatherings, perfect for mingling guests.
• Healthy Make-Ahead Option: Prepare vinaigrette and chop ingredients separately, storing them in sealed containers. Assemble the salad just before serving to maintain crisp textures and fresh flavors.
• Customizable Crowd-Pleaser: Allow guests to add extra toppings like crispy bacon bits, sliced grilled chicken, or additional nuts to personalize their salad experience and accommodate different dietary preferences.

Save Holiday Salad for Leftover Joy

• Store salad components separately in airtight containers to maintain crisp textures and prevent wilting.
• Keep vinaigrette in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, shaking well before each use to remix ingredients.
• Chop apples and mix vinaigrette ahead of time, adding sliced apples just before serving to prevent browning.
• Refrigerate serving bowl and salad ingredients for 15-30 minutes before assembling to enhance overall freshness and create a delightful cool temperature contrast.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 635 kcal

Servings: 4

Ingredients That Make a Great Christmas Salad

• Mixed Greens: Vibrant leafy foundation that provides a crisp, fresh backdrop for festive flavors.
• Apple Slices: Adds sweet crunch and seasonal brightness with a delicate tartness.
• Pomegranate Seeds: Jewel-like bursts of ruby color bringing tangy sweetness and antioxidant power.

• Dried Cranberries: Chewy, concentrated berry bits that deliver intense holiday-inspired sweetness.
• Candied Nuts: Provides delightful caramelized crunch with a hint of warmth and richness.
• Feta Cheese: Creamy, tangy element that balances the salad's sweet components with salty complexity.

• Olive Oil: Smooth, silky base that creates a luxurious dressing texture.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Bright acidic component that cuts through richness and awakens other flavors.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that softens vinegar's sharp edge and adds gentle depth.
• Dijon Mustard: Zesty emulsifier that binds dressing and provides subtle peppery undertone.
• Salt: Essential flavor amplifier that highlights each ingredient's natural taste.
• Black Pepper: Warm, spicy note that adds gentle heat and complexity.

Tools to Toss a Festive and Fresh Salad

• Whisk: Perfect for blending vinaigrette ingredients smoothly.
• Small bowl or jar: Ideal for mixing and storing dressing.
• Large serving bowl: Essential for combining salad ingredients and presenting the dish.
• Cutting board: Needed for slicing apples and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: Required for precise fruit and nut chopping.

Festive Christmas Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Festive Christmas Salad brings holiday cheer to your table with crisp greens, jewel-toned pomegranate seeds, and candied pecans. Sparkling flavors and elegant presentation invite guests to celebrate the season’s most delightful culinary moments.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or spring mix)
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (or goat cheese)
• ½ cup candied pecans or walnuts
• 1 green apple, thinly sliced
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tbsps apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Vinaigrette Preparation: Whisk olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small jar until emulsified, creating a smooth and balanced dressing that will complement the salad’s festive ingredients.
2. Salad Composition: Artfully arrange mixed greens as the base, then strategically scatter pomegranate seeds, crisp apple slices, tangy dried cranberries, crumbled feta cheese, and crunchy candied nuts to create a visually appealing and textural holiday medley.
3. Final Presentation: Moments before serving, delicately drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, ensuring an even distribution of flavors. Optionally, allow guests to dress their individual portions to maintain the salad’s pristine texture and prevent premature wilting of the greens.

Notes

• Keep apple slices and pomegranate seeds cold before assembling to maintain crisp texture and prevent browning.
• Adjust honey in vinaigrette based on the tartness of apples and cranberries to create a harmonious flavor profile.
• Add dressing just before serving to maintain the crunchiness of greens and nuts, preventing wilting and preserving texture.
• Swap feta with vegan cheese alternatives or omit for dairy-free version; use gluten-free candied nuts for celiac-friendly option.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg