Description
Festive Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing is vibrant and easy. My family’s favorite holiday side, full of fresh flavors and a creamy, tangy dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- Crisp Salad Base:
- 8 oz (about 8 cups) mixed greens (spring mix, baby spinach)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- Sweet & Savory Add-ins:
- 1/2 cup pomegranate arils (from 1 small pomegranate)
- 1/2 cup candied pecans (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Honey Mustard Dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Festive Finishing Touches:
- Optional: extra pomegranate arils for garnish
- Optional: fresh dill or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Crafting Your Delicious Christmas Salad Dressing:: First things first, let’s get that dreamy honey mustard dressing going. Grab a medium bowl, a whisk, and all your dressing ingredients: olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and that trusty Dijon mustard. Pour them all in! Now, whisk it like you’re trying to win a competition – really get it emulsified. You want it smooth and creamy, no oil slick on top! I find this step oddly therapeutic, honestly, watching it come together. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper; taste and adjust as you go. This Delicious Christmas Salad dressing is everything!
- Prepping Your Festive Add-ins:: Next, let’s get those lovely pomegranate arils out. If you’re using a whole pomegranate, score it and gently tap the back with a spoon over a bowl of water – the arils float, and the pith sinks! So clever! Then, slice your red onion super thin. I mean, paper-thin, almost transparent. If you’re sensitive to the bite, pop those slices in a bowl of ice water for about 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry. It really mellows them out, a trick I learned after one too many oniony salads, oops!
- Assembling the Delicious Christmas Salad:: Now for the fun part: building our beautiful Christmas salad. In your biggest salad bowl – and trust me, you’ll need a big one – gently combine the mixed greens and the thinly sliced red onion. Give them a light toss. This is where I sometimes get a little too enthusiastic and end up with greens flying everywhere, oops! Just be gentle, we’re aiming for elegance, not chaos, when creating this Delicious Christmas Salad.
- Adding the Sweet and Savory Layers:: Sprinkle in the crumbled feta cheese, those gorgeous pomegranate arils, and your candied pecans over the greens. I like to layer them a bit, so every forkful gets a good mix of everything. Don’t just dump them, you know? It’s all about presentation, even if it’s just for your family. This combination of textures and flavors is what makes this Delicious Christmas Salad truly special.
- Dressing the Salad (Just Before Serving!):: This is critical, hon! Only dress the salad right before you’re ready to serve it. Seriously, don’t do it sooner unless you enjoy sad, soggy greens. Drizzle that amazing honey mustard dressing generously over the salad. Use your clean hands or two large salad servers to gently toss everything together, making sure every leaf and every little jewel gets coated. You want it just coated, not swimming in dressing!
- Serving Your Delicious Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing:: Transfer your vibrant, fresh Delicious Christmas Salad to a beautiful serving bowl or platter. Take a moment to admire your handiwork! The colors should be popping, the smells inviting. Garnish with a few extra pomegranate arils or candied pecans if you’re feeling fancy. Serve immediately and watch it disappear. This salad is always a showstopper and a welcome fresh counterpoint to any rich holiday meal. It always feels so satisfying to see everyone enjoy it!