Christmas Salad with Citrus, Pomegranate, Feta, and Candied Pecans Recipe
A festive and vibrant Christmas Salad featuring mixed spring greens, sweet mandarin oranges, tangy pomegranate seeds, creamy feta cheese, and crunchy candied pecans, all tossed in a honey-Dijon vinaigrette. This colorful salad is perfect as a light holiday side dish or appetizer that brings fresh, seasonal flavors to your holiday table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 7 cups mixed spring greens
- 1 1/4 cups orange segments (mandarin oranges, clementines or tangerines)
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (can substitute dried cranberries)
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup candied pecans, roughly chopped
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon shallot, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, place the mixed spring greens, orange segments, pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped candied pecans. Gently toss to combine the ingredients evenly.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, minced shallot, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
- Toss salad with dressing: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad mixture according to your taste preference. Gently toss the salad to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing. Serve immediately, noting that there may be some leftover dressing.
Notes
- You can substitute pomegranate seeds with dried cranberries if fresh ones are not available.
- For added texture, candied pecans can be replaced or combined with walnuts or almonds.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the greens and the bright flavor of the dressing.
- If you prefer a less sweet dressing, reduce the honey slightly or omit it altogether.
- Can be prepared ahead of time but toss the salad with dressing just before serving to avoid sogginess.
Keywords: Christmas Salad, Festive Salad, Holiday Salad, Mixed Greens Salad, Feta Salad, Pomegranate Salad, Healthy Holiday Recipe
