Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing, Mandarins, Pomegranate, Candied Nuts, and Feta Recipe
A festive and refreshing Christmas Salad featuring mixed greens, sweet citrus segments, tart pomegranate arils, crunchy candied nuts, and creamy feta cheese, all brought together with a tangy honey mustard dressing. Perfect as a vibrant side dish for holiday meals or a light, nutritious salad anytime during the festive season.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed greens (spring mix recommended), packed but not overstuffed
- 1 cup mandarin or clementine orange segments (approximately 3–4 oranges)
- 1 cup pomegranate arils or ½ cup dried cranberries
- 2/3 cup glazed or candied nuts (such as candied pecans or candied walnuts)
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Dressing
- 1 batch Honey Mustard Dressing, or 8–10 tablespoons store-bought honey mustard dressing
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients. Wash and dry the mixed greens thoroughly and place them in a large salad bowl. Peel and segment the mandarins or clementines, removing any seeds. If using fresh pomegranate, extract the arils carefully, or measure out dried cranberries.
- Assemble the Salad. Add the mandarin segments, pomegranate arils or dried cranberries, and the glazed or candied nuts to the greens in the bowl. Toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly without bruising the greens.
- Add Feta Cheese. Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the top of the salad for a creamy and tangy contrast to the sweet and crunchy elements.
- Dress the Salad. Drizzle 8-10 tablespoons of honey mustard dressing over the salad according to taste. Toss gently again to ensure all ingredients are lightly coated with the dressing.
- Serve Immediately. Serve the salad fresh to maintain the crispness of the greens and the crunch of the nuts. This salad is perfect as a festive side dish or a light main course for holiday meals.
Notes
- For extra crunch, toast the nuts lightly before glazing or candying.
- Use fresh pomegranate arils for a juicier, more vibrant salad, but dried cranberries offer a convenient alternative.
- The salad can be customized by adding other seasonal fruits like apples or pears.
- To keep greens crisp, dress the salad just before serving.
- Honey mustard dressing can be homemade or store-bought depending on preference and time.
Keywords: Christmas Salad, Honey Mustard Salad, Holiday Salad, Mixed Greens Salad, Festive Salad