Description
Winter Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing: your festive side dish! Fresh greens, cranberries & pecans make this holiday salad a must-try.
Ingredients
Scale
- Salad Base:
- 10 oz (about 6–8 cups) mixed greens
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 large crisp apple (like Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and diced
- Festive Add-ins:
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup pecans, lightly toasted
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Honey Mustard Dressing:
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
- Optional Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for color)
Instructions
- Prep Your Winter Christmas Salad Greens & Veggies:: Okay, first things first, let’s get those greens ready. Wash your mixed greens thoroughly and spin them super dry. No one wants a watery salad, hon! Then, thinly slice your red onion – I mean paper-thin, it really makes a difference. Core and dice your apple into bite-sized pieces; I usually leave the skin on for extra color and nutrition, but you do you. This is where I sometimes get distracted and forget to put the cut apples in a little lemon water, so they start to brown. Oops! Learn from my mistakes, a quick lemon juice splash helps keep them fresh.
- Toast Those Pecans for the Winter Christmas Salad:: Next up, the pecans! I always toast them because it brings out such a deep, nutty flavor. Spread them in a single layer on a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Keep an eye on them, stirring occasionally, until they’re fragrant and slightly darker, about 3-5 minutes. They can go from perfect to burnt in a flash, trust me, I’ve had many a smoky kitchen incident! Once toasted, immediately transfer them to a plate to cool. This step makes such a difference for our Winter Christmas Salad.
- Whip Up the Honey Mustard Dressing:: Now for the star of the show, our Honey Mustard Dressing! In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk, whisk, whisk! Then, slowly drizzle in the olive oil while continuously whisking. This is key to getting a nice, emulsified, creamy dressing. It should look thick and glossy. If it separates, don’t fret, just keep whisking vigorously! Season with salt and pepper to taste. I always taste it here, adjusting the sweetness or tang as needed. Sometimes I add a tiny pinch more salt, it just makes it pop!
- Assemble the Winter Christmas Salad:: Alright, time to bring it all together. In a large, beautiful serving bowl (because presentation matters, even if it’s just for you!), combine the dried cranberries, diced apple, and thinly sliced red onion with your dry mixed greens. Don’t add the feta or pecans just yet; we want them to stay distinct and crunchy. I’ve definitely dumped everything in at once before, and the feta got lost. It’s a small detail, but makes a difference in the final look and texture of this Winter Christmas Salad.
- Dress the Winter Christmas Salad:: This is crucial: don’t dress the salad until just before serving! If you dress it too early, those beautiful greens will get soggy, and we don’t want that. Drizzle about half to two-thirds of your Honey Mustard Dressing over the salad ingredients in the bowl. Gently toss everything together with salad tongs, making sure every leaf and piece of fruit gets a little kiss of that amazing dressing. Add more dressing if you think it needs it, but start light; you can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
- Serve Your Festive Winter Christmas Salad:: Now for the grand finale! Once dressed, scatter the toasted pecans and crumbled feta cheese over the top of the Winter Christmas Salad. This ensures they stay crunchy and visible, adding that lovely texture contrast. Give it one last gentle toss or just arrange them beautifully on top. It looks so vibrant and inviting, honestly, the colors just scream holiday cheer. Serve immediately and watch it disappear. It smells so fresh and bright, a real treat!