Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe
A vibrant and festive Christmas Salad featuring fresh baby spinach or mixed greens, sweet pomegranate seeds, tangy cranberries, crisp apple slices, crunchy candied pecans, and optional creamy feta cheese, all tossed in a luscious homemade honey mustard dressing. This salad is perfect as a refreshing starter or side dish during holiday meals, combining sweet, tart, and savory flavors with a delightful crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- 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 to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make Honey Mustard Dressing: In a bowl or jar, whisk together 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Slowly drizzle in ¼ cup olive oil while continuously whisking or shaking until well emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare Salad Components: Wash and thoroughly dry the 4 cups of baby spinach or mixed greens. Thinly slice the 1 medium apple. If using fresh cranberries, ensure they are washed. If using red onion, thinly slice it.
- Assemble Salad: In a large serving bowl, gently combine the dried mixed greens, 1 cup fresh pomegranate seeds, 1 cup cranberries (fresh or dried), 1 medium thinly sliced apple, ½ cup candied pecans or walnuts, ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (if using), and ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion (if using).
- Dress and Serve: Retrieve the chilled Honey Mustard Dressing. Give it a good whisk or shake. Drizzle about half to two-thirds of the dressing over the salad. Gently toss all ingredients until lightly coated. Serve the Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing immediately for optimal freshness.
Notes
- For extra crunch, toast the pecans lightly before candying them.
- The dressing can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator to enhance flavor.
- If fresh cranberries are too tart, substitute with dried cranberries for a sweeter touch.
- Feta cheese is optional; you can omit it to keep the salad lighter or make it vegetarian-friendly.
- Adjust salt and pepper in the dressing to your taste preference.
- Serve immediately after tossing dressing to prevent greens from wilting.
Keywords: Christmas Salad, Honey Mustard Dressing, Holiday Salad, Festive Salad, Spinach Salad, Pomegranate Salad
