5.0 from 63 votes
Holiday Salad with Balsamic Dressing
A versatile and tasty recipe that’s quick to prepare and easy to enjoy.
Prep Time
25 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Salad:
- 6 ounces (3-4 cups) mixed salad greens
- 6 ounces (3-4 cups) chopped romaine
- 2 (11-ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained and oranges patted dry (see note)
- ½ to 1 to 1 cup crumbled feta cheese (see note)
- ½ to 1 to 1 cup pomegranate arils (can sub dried cranberries or cherries)
- ½ to 1 to 1 cup candied pecans or walnuts (see note)
Dressing:
- ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar (see note)
- 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.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Mandarin Oranges: in place of the canned mandarin oranges, you can slice and segment 2-3 small fresh mandarin oranges for the salad.
- Feta Cheese: crumbling feta cheese from the block vs buying already crumbled feta is a game changer. It is worlds creamier and super delicious (most grocery stores carry it in the specialty cheese section).
- Candied Pecans: my favorite recipe to use for the candied pecans is this oven-baked recipe - it is more foolproof than skillet recipes. I omit the cinnamon and add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a sweet/spicy kick. For a skillet version, I use the one from this romaine salad recipe. The pecans can be made a couple weeks in advance and stored in a tightly covered container.
- Vinegar: my preference for the salad dressing is a light-colored vinegar like white balsamic or white wine vinegar (I've used a fruit-flavored white balsamic, too, with great results!). Red wine vinegar will also work.
Nutrition Information
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%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6-8 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories
% 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.