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The Best Festive Holiday Christmas Salad Recipe

For a beautiful Holiday Salad Recipe this year, add a healthy punch of bold flavors to your holiday menu. Simple greens, fruits, and veggies topped with goat cheese and crunchy nuts -- it is a festive Christmas Salad topped with pomegranate arils and a pomegranate balsamic vinaigrette.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
18 mins
Servings: 4 -6 people
Calories: 234 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces baby spring lettuce or your favorite lettuce
  • 1 large pear sliced thin, your choice of pear
  • 1-2 medium naval oranges peeled, sliced into segments
  • 1/2 small shallot sliced thinly
  • 2-4 small cooked beets sliced thin, may also use pickled beets
  • 1/4 cup walnuts chopped, toasted
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 cup pistachios 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
    Cup of Yum
  1. Add oil, vinegar, shallot, orange juice, pomegranate juice, Dijon mustard, extra balsamic (if using) and kosher salt to a mason jar with a lid.
  2. Shake until combined or place in blender and whir for a few seconds. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Holiday Salad Recipe
  1. 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.
  2. Arrange baby spring greens on individual plates or in a salad bowl. I love plating individually for a prettier presentation.
  3. Fan out the pears, oranges, sliced beets, and then sprinkle with shallots, pistachios, honey walnuts and goat cheese, finishing with pomegranate arils for color.
  4. Serve with pomegranate dressing on the side or dress salad and toss.

Notes

  • See post for how to best get pomegranate seeds out, storage and freezing information. 
  • Variations
  • grapeseed oil
  • avocado oil
  • If you are making this salad ahead, I recommend storing each layer in a separate container so the colors and freshness stay crisp. Keep the sliced fruits from browning by adding a few drops of lemon juice to each bag or container of fruit.
  • Then you can layer and dress the salad when ready to serve.
  • And, if you have not mixed in the dressing you can place the salad in a container and store it in the refrigerator for a day or two.
  • **I have had good luck making up the individual salads, covering them tightly with plastic wrap and storing in the crisper drawer for up to 2 hours before an event. Wait to place the nuts and dressing until the last minute so it doesn't get wilted and soft!
  • Oils | Change olive oil out for grapeseed oil or avocado oil.
  • Vinegar | Use balsamic or pomegranate balsamic for the best taste profile. Or try red wine vinegar if you’d prefer.
  • Cheese | Not a fan of creamy goat cheese? Try feta cheese or blue cheese crumbles instead.
  • Onions | If you love the crunch of a strong onion in your salad, add the bold taste of red onion slices in place of the shallots or try my quick refrigerator pickled red onions for a milder take.
  • Spring Mixed Greens | You can use other healthy greens to make this hearty salad. Mix up your lettuce choices to taste.
  • Nuts | If nuts are not your thing, try sunflower seeds or pepitas.

Nutrition Information

Calories 234kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 15g (5%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Cholesterol 7mg (2%) Sodium 498mg (21%) Potassium 301mg (9%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 11g (22%) Vitamin A 1989IU (40%) Vitamin C 19mg (21%) Calcium 60mg (6%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4-6 people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 234

% 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.