Description
Festive and nutritious addition to any holiday meal, beautifully marrying flavors and colors that celebrate the season.
Ingredients
Scale
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp honey
- Juice of 1 large lime
- 6 oz baby spinach
- 1 cup toasted pecan halves (some chopped)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 3 mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
- ⅓ cup crumbled goat cheese
- ⅓ cup pomegranate arils (or more)
Instructions
- Start by creating a flavorful vinaigrette that will elevate your Christmas Salad. In a jar or a small bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and lime juice. Use a whisk to blend the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and emulsified. The balance of the tangy mustard and sweet honey will give your salad a delightful zing while also enhancing the freshness of the vegetables and fruits.
- Now that your dressing is prepared, it’s time to bring this festive salad to life! Take the baby spinach and place it in a large serving bowl or individual salad plates for a more elegant presentation. Once the spinach is in place, you can start layering the other ingredients. Add the dried cranberries for a pop of sweetness, follow with the succulent segments of mandarin oranges, and add the crumbled goat cheese for creaminess.
- Just before serving, drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over your beautifully arranged salad. For an aesthetically pleasing presentation, consider adding more pecans and pomegranate arils on top after tossing everything together. This way, you’ll maximize the texture and color contrast, making your Christmas Salad not just a meal but a visual delight that will impress all your guests!
Notes
Best served fresh, but you can prepare the vinaigrette and chop the ingredients a day in advance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
Nutrition
- Calories: Approximately 250 per serving
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Protein: 6 g