Description
Vibrant Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing brings festive cheer to your table. Crisp greens, sweet fruits, and a zesty homemade dressing.
Ingredients
- Base Salad Components:
- Mixed Greens (5 oz bag, spring mix is my favorite for ease and variety)
- Apple (1 small, e.g., Honeycrisp or Fuji, thinly sliced, for crisp freshness)
- Red Onion (1/4 small, thinly sliced, rinsed to mellow the bite)
- Flavorful Toppings:
- Pomegranate Arils (1/2 cup, fresh or pre-seeded, saves so much mess!)
- Candied Pecans (1/2 cup, store-bought or homemade, for that essential crunch and sweetness)
- Feta Cheese (1/2 cup, crumbled, for a tangy, creamy bite)
- Honey Mustard Dressing:
- Dijon Mustard (2 tbsp, good quality makes all the difference)
- Honey (3 tbsp, local is always a win)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (1.5 tbsp, for that perfect tang)
- Olive Oil (1/4 cup, extra virgin, for a smooth emulsion)
- Garlic Powder (1/4 tsp, just a hint of aromatic warmth)
- Salt & Black Pepper (to taste, I like a good crack of pepper!)
Instructions
- Prep the Veggies & Fruit:: First things first, get those greens washed and spun dry. Nobody wants a watery salad, right? Then, thinly slice your apple and red onion. I usually do this right before serving so the apple doesn’t brown. For the pomegranate arils, if you’re brave enough to seed your own, good on you! Otherwise, just open that container of pre-seeded gems. It just makes life easier, especially during the holiday rush, you know?
- Whip Up the Honey Mustard Dressing:: Now for the star of the show: the Honey Mustard Dressing! In a small bowl or a jar with a lid (my preference for easy shaking), combine the Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk it all together until it’s smooth. Then, slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously until it’s emulsified and looks wonderfully creamy. I’ve made the mistake of dumping all the oil in at once, and it just doesn’t come together right, so take your time here!
- Assemble the Christmas Salad:: In a large serving bowl, gently combine your mixed greens, sliced apples, and red onion. This is where the magic starts to happen! Don’t dress it yet, though; we want those greens to stay crisp. I often arrange the ingredients artfully on top before tossing, it just looks so much prettier for a festive spread. The colors of this Christmas Salad are just so cheerful.
- Add the Festive Toppings:: Sprinkle those beautiful pomegranate arils, the crumbled feta cheese, and your delicious candied pecans over the top of the salad. This is where the Christmas Salad really starts to look like a holiday masterpiece. I always sneak a few candied pecans while I’m doing this, honestly, they’re so good. The contrast of textures and flavors is what makes this salad so special, to be real.
- Dress and Serve Your Christmas Salad:: Just before serving, drizzle the Honey Mustard Dressing over the salad. Use as much or as little as you like, though I tend to be generous! Gently toss everything together until the greens and toppings are lightly coated. You want every bite to have a little bit of everything, you know? The smell of the dressing mingling with the fresh greens is just divine. Don’t over-dress it, or it gets soggy, which is the absolute worst!
- Enjoy the Freshness:: Serve your gorgeous Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing immediately! The crispness of the greens, the sweetness of the fruit, the tang of the dressing – it all comes together in a symphony of holiday flavors. It should look vibrant, smell fresh and tangy, and taste like a little burst of holiday cheer. I always get compliments on this one, even from those who claim they “don’t do salad.”