Holiday Salad with Balsamic Dressing
User Reviews
5
Holiday Salad with Balsamic Dressing
Description
This Holiday Salad blends mixed salad greens and chopped romaine lettuce, with drained mandarin oranges, crumbled feta cheese, pomegranate arils (or dried cranberries/cherries), and candied pecans or walnuts. The combination creates varied textures from crisp greens to juicy citrus and seeds, creamy tang from feta, and sweet crunch from candied nuts. The dressing combines white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and salt, whisked or blended to harmonize sweet and tangy flavors.
The salad can be tossed with the dressing or served separately, allowing customization for each eater. The components make it colorful and appealing on the holiday table, providing a fresh, flavorful complement to heavier main dishes.
Substitutions include using fresh segmented mandarins instead of canned, choosing block feta to crumble for creamier texture, and making candied pecans in advance for convenience. Vinegar options such as white wine or red wine vinegar can replace white balsamic if preferred. The candied nuts can be prepared a couple weeks ahead and stored tightly covered.
Ingredients
Salad:
- 6 ounces mixed salad greens 3-4 cups
- 6 ounces romaine lettuce chopped, 3-4 cups
- 2 (11-ounce) cans mandarin oranges drained and patted dry
- ½ to 1 to 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
- ½ to 1 to 1 cup pomegranate arils can substitute dried cranberries or cherries
- ½ to 1 to 1 cup pecans candied, or walnuts
Dressing:
- ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Lightly toss all the salad ingredients together in a bowl (make sure the mandarin oranges are dried well).
- Whisk or blend the salad dressing ingredients together until well-combined.
- Drizzle the salad dressing over the entire salad and toss to combine OR serve the dressing on the side for individual servings.
Notes
- Substitute fresh mandarin orange segments for canned mandarins for a fresher flavor.
- Crumbling feta from a block yields a creamier texture than pre-crumbled cheese.
- Candied pecans can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
- White balsamic vinegar is preferred for the dressing, but white wine or red wine vinegar also work well.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6-8 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 serving | |
| Calories | 183kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 8mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 212mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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