Christmas Salad Recipe
This Festive Christmas Salad Recipe is not only an easy recipe for a gorgeous salad, but it makes a lovely addition to your Holiday Table.
Our traditional holiday meal includes Prime Rib, Yorkshire pudding, Apple Pie, and Pecan Pie. Those are the non-negotiables. From there, I try to balance out the heaviness of those family favs with a few side dishes that are a bit lighter and healthier, in the form of vegetables and salads.
Enter this truly simple green salad made festive with the addition of seasonal produce like fresh, juicy pears, bright red pomegranate seeds, crunchy pistachios, and sunflower seeds, salty and earthy gorgonzola cheese, and chewy dried cranberries. This combination of colorful ingredients creates a Festive Christmas Salad in red, green, and white.
Table of Contents
Regardless of whether the centerpiece of your Christmas Dinner Table is a Prime Rib, a Christmas Ham, or a Roast Pork Tenderloin, this Christmas Salad will be a welcome addition.
A Healthy and Fresh Addition to Your Holiday Table
I think we can all agree that the holiday season is typically characterized by overeating and overindulging. After a month of party food, appetizers, and cookies, I’m ready for some fresh and healthy eating. And there are few dishes healthier and fresher than this salad made crisp greens nuts, fresh pears, and juicy pomegranate seeds!
Make sure to check out this video for quickly removing the arils from a pomegranate; I’ve tried many methods for removing arils, and so far, this is the best way. Plus, it’s fun! Just make sure you wear clothes that you won’t mind getting pomegranate juice on or a dark apron! And lemon juice or vinegar will remove pomegranate juice stains from a cutting board.
You can remove the arils from the pomegranate several days ahead of time; store them in an airtight container until you add them to this vibrant salad. Pomegranate arils removed from a pomegranate should be used within four days.
One pomegranate typically yields one cup of pomegranate seeds/arils.
The Elements of This Christmas Salad Can Be Prepared Ahead of Time and Tossed Together at The Last Minute.
If you are looking for an easy dish to bring to a Christmas Party, consider bringing this salad recipe. You can easily prep the ingredients ahead of time and toss them together at the last minute, making it a perfect dinner party dish.
Christmas Salad Recipe Substitutions:
Most of the ingredients for this Christmas Salad Recipe should be easy to source in your local grocery stores. However, you can easily substitute and still have a beautiful salad for your Christmas feast.
- Instead of the mixed greens, consider baby spinach or a mix of spinach and peppery arugula.
- Instead of a pear, try one of those delicious Honeycrisp apples in your holiday salad.
- If you like raw onions, consider some thinly shaved red onions.
- If you are not a Gorgonzola fan, give goat cheese or feta cheese a try.
- While I love the green of the pistachios in this salad, toasted walnuts or pecans would also be a suitable substitution.
Christmas Salad
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 5 ounces mixed greens or spring blend
- 1 ripe pear sliced thin and sprinkled with lemon juice (skin on or off…your choice)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup roasted sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup roasted and shelled pistachios
- 2 ounces crumbled gorgonzola or goat cheese
Maple Salad Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fruity vinegar a fruity balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar or fruity apple cider vinegar would work
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk all the Maple Salad Dressing ingredients until combined well
- Place lettuce in your salad bowl and then arrange pears, cranberries, gorgonzola, sunflower seeds, and pistachios over the lettuce.
- Sprinkle with the pomegranate arils
- Toss the salad with the Maple Dressing or serve the dressing alongside the salad.
Notes
Nutrition
Once again, it doesn’t matter if your main course is roast beef or a roast turkey, duck, or chicken or a Turdurcken this festive Christmas salad would be an excellent accompaniment
If you need a Christmas-y dessert because you were so healthy with this salad, I’ve got you covered! Mrs. Claus 🤶🏼 has nothing on me!
- For super-easy cookies that leave a big impression (and happen to be gluten-free), try these Coconut Christmas Trees and these delightfully chewy inside and crisp outside Amaretti Cookies.
- Molasses Crinkles and Pennsylvania Dutch Chocolate Cookies have been made in my home since I was a tyke!
- For a fancier Christmas treat, consider this Spiced Linzer Cookie or these Mini Cranberry Curd Tarts. This Cranberry Curd Tart recipe is another one where the recipe’s elements can be made ahead of time and assembled at the last minute.
- And for just a cute cookies, check out these Gingerbread Button Cookies!
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