Festive Christmas Salad with Pomegranate & Citrus
A vibrant and festive Christmas salad featuring mixed greens, pomegranate seeds, fresh citrus slices, toasted nuts, tangy cheese, and a bright homemade vinaigrette. This holiday side dish is easy to prepare, refreshing, and perfect for complementing your seasonal meals with a burst of color and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American, Holiday
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 oranges, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup feta or goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh herbs (optional)
Dressing Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or orange juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the salad base: Place the mixed greens in a large serving bowl to create the base of your salad.
- Add toppings: Scatter the pomegranate seeds, sliced oranges, crumbled feta or goat cheese, toasted nuts, and thinly sliced red onion evenly over the greens for a layered burst of flavor and texture.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey or maple syrup, apple cider vinegar or orange juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified and well combined.
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette evenly over the salad ingredients just before serving to maintain freshness and crispness.
- Toss and garnish: Gently toss the salad to evenly coat the ingredients with the dressing, then garnish with fresh herbs if desired for added aroma and color.
Notes
- Prepare ingredients ahead of time but dress the salad only at serving to keep it fresh and crisp.
- Seed pomegranates easily by cutting them in half and whacking the seeds out over a bowl with a wooden spoon.
- Use a variety of citrus fruits like blood oranges, tangerines, or Cara Cara oranges to add colorful and flavorful depth.
- Toast nuts to enhance their aroma and add a warm festive touch to the salad.
- Add cooked grains such as quinoa or farro to the salad to make it more filling if desired.
- For a vegan version, substitute maple syrup for honey and omit the cheese or use a vegan cheese alternative.
- To vary the salad, consider adding dried or fresh cranberries, or thinly sliced apples for crunch.
- Make the salad dressing ahead and store separately to assemble quickly at serving.