Christmas Salad

5 from 1 vote

This festive Christmas Salad features fresh greens, mandarin oranges, pomegranate, candied pecans, and crumbled feta in a zesty citrus vinaigrette-light, flavorful, and perfect for holiday dinners.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 320kcal

Author: Jennifer Fishkind

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

¼ cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the Salad

6 cups spring mix
1 cup mandarin orange segments fresh or canned, drained
1 cup pomegranate arils
½ cup candied pecans
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the orange juice, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, and maple syrup until smooth.
¼ cup fresh orange juice, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking to emulsify the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the spring mix in a large salad bowl or on a serving platter.
6 cups spring mix
Arrange mandarin orange segments, pomegranate seeds, candied pecans, and crumbled feta cheese over the greens.
1 cup mandarin orange segments, 1 cup pomegranate arils, ½ cup candied pecans, 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
Drizzle the prepared citrus vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to combine, or leave it layered for presentation. Enjoy!

Notes

Storage:

Make ahead: Prepare the dressing up to 3 days in advance and store in the refrigerator. Keep greens and toppings separate until ready to serve.
Store: Leftover salad (without dressing) can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheat: Not needed; best served cold or at room temperature.
Freeze: Not recommended, as fresh ingredients lose texture when thawed.

Tips:

Dress the salad just before serving so the greens stay crisp.
Store nuts separately if prepping ahead to keep their crunch.
Use fresh citrus juice for the best flavor - bottled juice can taste flat.
You can make the dressing up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate it in a jar

Nutrition