Christmas Fresh Salad with Orange, Pomegranate, and Candied Pecans Recipe
This Christmas Fresh Salad offers a vibrant and refreshing mix of seasonal flavors perfect for holiday gatherings. With a bright, citrusy dressing featuring fresh orange juice and apple cider vinegar, combined with a crisp spring mix, sweet mandarin oranges, juicy pomegranate arils, crunchy candied pecans, and creamy feta cheese, this salad embodies a delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes. It’s a colorful, easy-to-assemble dish that adds festive cheer to any meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Salad
- 6 cups spring mix
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments, fresh or canned, drained
- 1 cup pomegranate arils
- ½ cup candied pecans
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh orange juice, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, and maple syrup or honey until well combined. Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while whisking continuously to emulsify the dressing. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, add the spring mix as the base. Layer the mandarin orange segments and pomegranate arils evenly over the greens.
- Add crunchy and creamy elements: Sprinkle the candied pecans and crumbled feta cheese on top of the salad to add texture and richness.
- Toss the salad: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together to evenly coat the ingredients without bruising the delicate greens.
- Serve immediately: Transfer the dressed salad to individual plates or serve directly from the bowl while fresh and crisp for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a nut-free option, omit the candied pecans or substitute with roasted pumpkin seeds.
- Use fresh mandarin orange segments for the best flavor but canned segments work well as a convenient alternative.
- The dressing can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; whisk before using.
- To make this salad vegan, substitute the feta cheese with a plant-based cheese or omit it entirely.
- Adjust sweetness of the dressing by adding more honey or maple syrup if desired.
Keywords: Christmas salad, fresh salad, holiday salad, pomegranate salad, mandarin orange salad, spring mix salad, festive salad, healthy salad