The Best Festive Holiday Christmas Salad Recipe
User Reviews
5
The Best Festive Holiday Christmas Salad Recipe
Description
This holiday salad blends tender spring lettuce with thinly sliced pear, orange segments, and cooked or pickled beets, layered with toasted honeyed walnuts, pistachios, and crumbled goat cheese for a balance of sweetness, nuttiness, and creamy tang. The addition of thinly sliced shallots adds a mild onion bite.
The pomegranate salad dressing is made by combining balsamic vinegar, olive oil, minced shallot, orange and pomegranate juices, Dijon mustard, and salt. Shaking or blending these ingredients produces a flavorful, slightly sweet and tart dressing that accentuates the salad's fresh ingredients.
Serve the salad plated individually or in a bowl. The nuts and dressing are best added just before serving to keep textures crisp and prevent wilting. This salad offers a bright, colorful presentation suitable for holiday tables or gatherings, where the combination of fruit, nuts, cheese, and greens creates layered flavor and texture.
For make-ahead preparation, store salad components separately to maintain freshness and color. Adding lemon juice to cut fruit helps prevent browning. Variation options include using different oils, vinegars, cheeses, onions, and nuts to suit taste preferences.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces spring lettuce or your favorite lettuce, baby
- 1 large pear sliced thin, your choice of pear
- 1-2 medium navel orange peeled, sliced into segments
- 1/2 small shallot sliced thinly
- 2-4 small beets sliced thin, may also use pickled beets, cooked
- 1/4 cup walnuts chopped, toasted
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 cup pistachio shelled, chopped
- 3-4 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- pomegranate arils for garnish
Pomegranate Salad Dressing Recipe
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar regular or pomegranate
- 1/4 cup olive oil or use Grapeseed or Avocado oil
- 1/2 small shallot minced
- 2 tablespoons orange juice fresh squeezed is best
- 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice pure juice, like Pom
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar if using pomegranate balsamic, it's a bit sweet, this will balance it a bit.
Instructions
Make Pomegranate Dressing
- Add oil, vinegar, shallot, orange juice, pomegranate juice, Dijon mustard, extra balsamic (if using) and kosher salt to a mason jar with a lid.
- Shake until combined or place in blender and whir for a few seconds. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Holiday Salad Recipe
- Make honeyed walnuts. Toss walnuts into a pan over medium heat, shaking or stirring until nutty and warm. Add drizzle of honey, stirring constantly for one minute, then transfer to parchment or foil lined tray to cool, breaking apart any clumps that form. Allow to cool.
- Arrange baby spring greens on individual plates or in a salad bowl. I love plating individually for a prettier presentation.
- Fan out the pears, oranges, sliced beets, and then sprinkle with shallots, pistachios, honey walnuts and goat cheese, finishing with pomegranate arils for color.
- Serve with pomegranate dressing on the side or dress salad and toss.
Notes
- To keep fruits fresh and prevent browning, add lemon juice to sliced pears and oranges when storing.
- Store salad ingredients separately until serving, especially nuts and dressing, to maintain texture and color.
- Honeyed walnuts are toasted and coated with honey to add warmth and sweetness; break apart cooled clusters before adding.
- The dressing can be made ahead and refrigerated; shake or blend well before using.
- Substitute grapeseed or avocado oil for olive oil, or try red wine vinegar instead of balsamic for variety.
- Cheese options include goat cheese, feta, or blue cheese to suit preference.
- Add red onion slices or quick pickled red onions for a stronger or milder onion flavor respectively.
- Mix different salad greens to tailor texture and taste.
- For nut-free alternatives, substitute sunflower seeds or pepitas.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4-6 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 234 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 234kcal | 12% |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 5% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol | 7mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 498mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 301mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 1989IU | 40% |
| Vitamin C | 19mg | 21% |
| Calcium | 60mg | 6% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
