Description
Mediterranean-inspired Christmas salad blends festive flavors with fresh ingredients. Crisp greens, roasted vegetables, and tangy feta create a delightful holiday side dish you’ll savor with each colorful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 ounces (170 grams) baby spinach
- 1 cup pecan halves, toasted (some chopped finely)
- 3 mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
Dried Fruits and Cheese:
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup (50 grams) goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/3 cup (50 grams) pomegranate arils
Vinaigrette:
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 large lime, freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Craft a vibrant dressing by whisking olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and lime juice in a mason jar until smooth and well-blended, adjusting citrus notes to personal preference.
- For individual servings, layer a bed of fresh spinach in each serving bowl, creating a verdant foundation.
- Generously scatter toasted pecans across the spinach, adding a rich, nutty crunch to the base.
- Delicately distribute sweet mandarin segments throughout the salad, introducing bright, juicy pops of flavor.
- Sprinkle tangy goat cheese crumbles, allowing them to nestle between the greens and fruit.
- Dot the surface with jewel-like cranberries, providing bursts of tart sweetness.
- Liberally garnish with glistening pomegranate arils, enhancing visual appeal and introducing additional textural contrast.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad, ensuring each ingredient is lightly coated but not overwhelmed.
- For family-style presentation, gently toss all ingredients except pecans and pomegranate in a large serving bowl, then finish by topping with toasted nuts and pomegranate arils just before serving.
Notes
- Customize the dressing by adding a splash of maple syrup for extra sweetness or a pinch of cayenne for subtle heat.
- Toast pecans quickly in a dry skillet to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch to the salad.
- Swap goat cheese with feta or blue cheese for different flavor profiles that complement the tangy-sweet elements.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and store separately to maintain freshness, assembling just before serving to keep greens crisp and vibrant.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 303
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 164 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg