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Tangy Holiday Salad

Featured in Fresh Salads You'll Actually Want to Eat.

Bring crisp, colorful cheer to your holiday table with this eye-catching holiday salad. A mix of fresh greens, juicy pomegranate seeds, sweet and tart cranberries, and apple slices make the perfect combo. Add candied pecans for an extra crunchy touch, and optional feta for a creamy finish. The honey mustard dressing brightens everything up with its sweet and zingy flavor. Simple to prepare yet elegant, this dish is a crowd-pleaser and a refreshing side to rich holiday meals.
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Updated on Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:22:08 GMT
Colorful winter salad with honey mustard dressing and festive toppings for holiday meals. Pin it
Colorful winter salad with honey mustard dressing and festive toppings for holiday meals. | cookbybook.com

Bright holiday colors and tastes blend in this lively salad, where deep red pomegranate and cranberries pop against fresh greens, while the sweet-tangy honey mustard dressing ties everything together. Every mouthful gives you a mix of snap, smoothness, and crunch.

I found out that gently heating the honey first makes the dressing mix up smoother and helps it blend better with the mustard and oil.

Smart Guide to Picking Ingredients

  • Greens: Pick fresh, crisp baby spinach or mixed greens without soft spots
  • Pomegranate: Look for ones that feel weighty with shiny, unmarked skin
  • Apples: Go for hard, crunchy types that won't turn brown fast
  • Nuts: Get recently harvested pecans or walnuts for top taste
  • Feta: Buy the solid block kind, break it up just when serving
  • Honey: Try to get nearby raw honey for the richest taste
Colorful Christmas salad with honey mustard dressing, a fresh and vibrant dish. Pin it
Colorful Christmas salad with honey mustard dressing, a fresh and vibrant dish. | cookbybook.com

Clear Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Getting greens ready:
Clean well in cool water. Get them totally dry with a spinner. Keep cold until needed. Break big leaves if you need to. Cut off any woody stems.
Making amazing dressing:
Slightly heat thick honey. Mix with mustard before anything else. Slowly add vinegar. Pour oil in thin stream while mixing. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Wait 15 minutes for flavors to mix.
Prepping fruits and nuts:
Heat nuts until they smell good. Let them cool fully before cutting. Cut apples right before you serve. Get pomegranate seeds out carefully. Ready cranberries if using fresh ones.
Putting it all together:
Stack ingredients with care. Add dressing right before eating. Mix softly so nothing gets mushy. Put toppings on last. Serve right away.

After many holiday dinners, I've realized that stacking the ingredients instead of mixing them all creates a prettier dish and stops lighter bits from falling to the bottom.

How to Time Everything Right

Getting the timing down makes all the difference:

  • Keep greens cold until the last minute
  • Warm up dressing to room temp
  • Toast nuts way ahead and let them cool
  • Don't put everything together until 15 minutes before eating

Do-Ahead Tips

Great for busy holiday cooking:

  • Mix up dressing up to 3 days early
  • Toast and cut nuts 2 days before
  • Wash and dry greens a day ahead
  • Take out pomegranate seeds earlier
  • Save the final assembly for just before eating

Ways to Change With the Seasons

Works great at Christmas, but try these year-round:

  • Spring: Throw in strawberries and asparagus
  • Summer: Mix with peaches and blueberries
  • Fall: Add pears and roasted squash
  • Winter: Try orange slices and persimmons
Delicious Christmas salad topped with honey mustard dressing, ideal for your holiday table. Pin it
Delicious Christmas salad topped with honey mustard dressing, ideal for your holiday table. | cookbybook.com

After hosting holidays for years, this salad always wows people with its perfect mix of flavors and textures. The way the sweet pomegranate plays against the zingy dressing while the nuts give that nice crunch makes it something really special. It works just as well at fancy dinners as casual get-togethers, showing that holiday food can look pretty and taste awesome too.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I prep this in advance?
Keep everything separate until serving. Toss and dress it right before eating to keep it crisp.
→ Which apples are best to use?
Gala apples are great for sweetness, while Granny Smith adds a tart edge. Firm, fresh apples work best.
→ Is it okay to swap dried for fresh cranberries?
Dried cranberries totally work! They're easier to find and add a sweeter touch.
→ How long does the dressing last?
Store it in the fridge, sealed tight, and it’ll stay good for about 7 days.
→ Are other candied nuts okay?
Definitely! Walnuts and almonds are great options alongside pecans.

Honey Mustard Holiday Salad

Crunchy greens, bright pomegranate, sweet cranberries, and apples all drizzled with a simple honey mustard dressing for an easy holiday favorite.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
5 Minutes
Total Time
15 Minutes
By: Susan

Category: Salads

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (1 big holiday-style salad)

Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

→ Fresh Produce

01 1 medium apple (Granny Smith or Gala), thin slices work best
02 ¼ cup red onion, sliced thin (optional)
03 1 cup cranberries, you can use dried or fresh
04 1 cup pomegranate seeds—bright and juicy
05 4 cups of fresh mixed greens or baby spinach

→ Toppings

06 ½ cup crumbled feta (optional)
07 ½ cup of candied walnuts or pecans

→ Honey Mustard Dressing

08 ¼ cup olive oil, extra virgin preferred
09 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
10 2 tablespoons honey, golden and smooth
11 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
12 A pinch of ground pepper and salt

Instructions

Step 01

Use a salad spinner or paper towels to dry your greens after rinsing them. Dry leaves are better because they let the dressing cling nicely!

Step 02

Leave the apple peel on for some color and nutrients, but core and slice thin. If you're using fresh pomegranate, remove the seeds gently. Fresh cranberries can be cut in half for a softer flavor, or left whole.

Step 03

Use medium heat in a skillet and toast candied nuts for 3-5 minutes to make them crispy and fragrant. Cool them before adding them to the salad.

Step 04

Mix the olive oil, vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard together in a small jar or bowl until it's creamy and smooth. Don't forget to add a bit of pepper and salt to finish it off.

Step 05

Carefully toss together your apple slices, greens, dried or fresh cranberries, pomegranate seeds, feta, and nuts in a big bowl. Pour some dressing over it (not too much at first) and gently mix before serving.

Notes

  1. It's a great option for holidays, thanks to the festive red and green colors.
  2. You can make all the parts ahead, but it's best to add the dressing right as you serve.
  3. Fresh cranberries don’t have to be used; dried ones are a great alternative.

Tools You'll Need

  • A large serving bowl
  • Salad spinner to dry greens
  • A small bowl or jar for mixing dressing
  • Whisk for stirring dressing

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains tree nuts (walnuts or pecans)
  • Feta cheese adds dairy if included

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 225
  • Total Fat: 14 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 30 g
  • Protein: 5 g