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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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