Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe
A festive and refreshing Christmas Salad featuring baby spinach, fresh pomegranate seeds, cranberries, crisp apple slices, toasted candied nuts, and optional crumbled feta cheese, all tossed in a sweet and tangy homemade honey mustard dressing. Perfect as a colorful side dish or starter for holiday meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
- 1 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
- 1 cup fresh cranberries (or dried cranberries)
- 1 medium apple, thinly sliced (such as Gala or Granny Smith)
- ½ cup candied pecans or walnuts
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
Honey Mustard Dressing
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and Dry the Greens: Thoroughly wash the baby spinach or mixed greens to remove any dirt. Use a salad spinner or pat dry gently with a paper towel to eliminate excess moisture, ensuring a fresh crisp base for your salad.
- Slice the Apple: Core the apple and thinly slice it. Keep the skin on if desired to add color and extra nutrients to the salad.
- Prepare the Pomegranate and Cranberries: Carefully extract fresh pomegranate seeds from the fruit. For fresh cranberries, leave them whole or slice in half for a milder flavor. If using dried cranberries, no preparation needed.
- Toast the Nuts (Optional): To enhance their flavor, toast the candied pecans or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant. Allow them to cool before adding to the salad.
- Make the Honey Mustard Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined. Adjust seasoning according to taste.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the greens, pomegranate seeds, cranberries, apple slices, toasted nuts, crumbled feta cheese (if using), and optionally sliced red onion. Toss gently to mix ingredients evenly.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle the honey mustard dressing over the salad. Toss carefully to coat all ingredients evenly without overdressing. Add dressing gradually based on your preference.
- Serve Immediately: Present your Christmas Salad fresh as a colorful, healthy side dish or starter perfect for holiday gatherings.
Notes
- Use fresh cranberries for a tart bite or dried cranberries for sweetness.
- Feta cheese and red onion are optional but add great texture and flavor contrast.
- Toasted candied nuts bring a delightful crunch and depth of flavor.
- Adjust the amount of dressing based on personal preference to avoid overdressing.
- This salad is best served immediately to maintain freshness and crispness.
Keywords: Christmas salad, holiday salad, honey mustard dressing, pomegranate salad, apple salad, festive side dish, healthy salad
