Description
A festive and vibrant Winter Christmas Salad featuring candied nuts, fresh greens, and a delicious honey mustard dressing, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups raw walnut halves
- ½ cup hulled pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 cup honey or pure maple syrup
- ¼ tsp chipotle powder
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Chili flakes (optional, to taste)
- 6 cups assorted salad greens
- 2 cups curly endive (frisée)
- 1–2 apples or pears, chopped
- 2 avocados, sliced
- 2 cups pomegranate seeds (arils)
- 1 cup crumbled cheese (blue cheese, goat cheese, or feta)
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp fig preserves
- 2 tsp orange zest (finely grated)
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Kosher salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss walnuts and pumpkin seeds with honey or maple syrup, chipotle powder, kosher salt, and chili flakes. Spread on the baking sheet and bake for ~15 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- In a large bowl, combine salad greens, frisée, chopped apples or pears, sliced avocados, pomegranate seeds, and crumbled cheese. Add cooled candied nuts and seeds, and gently toss.
- In a jar, combine olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, fig preserves, orange zest, orange juice, kosher salt, and black pepper. Seal and shake until smooth.
- Drizzle dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Dress the salad just before serving to avoid wilting.
- Toast the nuts carefully to prevent burning.
- Slice avocados last to prevent browning.
- Store candied nuts & dressing separately in airtight containers ahead of time.
- Prep Time: 10–15 min
- Cook Time: 15–20 min
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking, Tossing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Winter Christmas Salad, festive salad, holiday salad, candied nuts salad