Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
This festive Christmas Salad combines fresh mixed greens, juicy pomegranate arils, sweet apples or pears, creamy avocado, and crunchy candied nuts. Topped with crumbled blue cheese, feta, or goat cheese and drizzled with a sweet and tangy honey mustard dressing, it's the perfect show-stopping salad for holiday gatherings and special occasions.
Servings: 8
Calories: 511kcal
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1½ cups raw walnuts
- ½ cup shelled pumpkin seeds
- ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 2 cups frisée lettuce
- 1-2 apples or pears chopped
- 2 avocados sliced
- 2 cups pomegranate arils
- 1 cup crumbled blue cheese feta, or goat cheese
For the Dressing:
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fig preserves
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Chili flakes to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Candied Nuts
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, toss the walnuts and pumpkin seeds with honey (or maple syrup), chipotle chili powder, and a pinch of salt.
- Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the nuts are golden and fragrant.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with flaky salt while warm. Let cool completely.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large salad bowl, add the mixed greens and frisée lettuce.
- Top with chopped apples (or pears), sliced avocado, pomegranate arils, and crumbled cheese.
- Sprinkle the cooled candied nuts over the salad.
Make the Dressing
- In a jar, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar (or apple cider vinegar), Dijon mustard, honey, fig preserves, orange zest, and orange juice.
- Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and chili flakes to taste.
- Seal the jar and shake vigorously until the dressing is well emulsified.
Serve
- Just before serving, drizzle the honey mustard dressing over the salad.
- Gently toss to combine and serve immediately.
Notes
Cheese Options: Use blue cheese for a bold flavor, feta for a tangy touch, or goat cheese for creaminess.
Make Ahead: The dressing, candied nuts, and chopped salad ingredients can be prepped in advance. Assemble and dress the salad just before serving for the best texture.
Nut-Free Option: Replace walnuts with extra pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
Fruit Variations: Substitute apples or pears with persimmons, or add dried cranberries for extra seasonal flair.