Yummy Christmas Salad – Fresh, Festive & Bursting With Holiday Flavor

🎉 Introduction

This Yummy Christmas Salad is bright, fresh, colorful, and packed with festive flavors that perfectly balance rich holiday mains. With crisp greens, juicy fruit, crunchy nuts, creamy cheese, and a zesty homemade dressing, this salad brings a refreshing pop to any Christmas table.

It’s simple, beautiful, and incredibly flavorful — the kind of dish that makes everyone reach for seconds. Perfect alongside turkey, beef, chicken, or as a light holiday lunch on its own.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Large salad bowl
• Small mixing bowl (for dressing)
• Whisk
• Cutting board
• Knife

🛒 Ingredients

Salad Base

• 6 cups mixed spring greens or baby spinach
• 1 cup pomegranate arils
• 1 cup mandarin orange segments (fresh or canned, drained)
• ½ cup thinly sliced cucumbers
• ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
• ½ cup feta or goat cheese, crumbled
• ½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts (or almonds)

Citrus Honey Dressing

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Optional Add-Ins

• Diced avocado
• Dried cranberries
• Apple slices
• Roasted sweet potatoes (small cubes)

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Dressing

In a small bowl whisk together:

• olive oil
• orange juice
• lemon juice
• honey
• Dijon mustard
• salt
• pepper

Whisk until smooth and emulsified.
Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity as needed.

Step 2: Build the Salad

In a large bowl, layer:

1. Mixed greens or spinach
2. Pomegranate arils
3. Mandarin orange slices
4. Cucumbers
5. Red onions
6. Crumbled cheese
7. Toasted pecans

Keep ingredients layered if serving later — toss just before serving.

Step 3: Toss & Serve

Right before serving:

• Drizzle dressing over the salad
• Toss gently
• Top with extra pomegranate or nuts for decoration

Serve immediately.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Serves: 6–8
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes

🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead

• Dressing: store separately up to 1 week
• Salad base: store undressed up to 1 day
• Do not pre-toss — greens will wilt

To prep ahead:
Assemble everything except nuts and dressing. Add them right before serving.

🥄 Variations

1. Cranberry Christmas Salad
   Add dried cranberries + apples.
2. Pomegranate & Pear Salad
   Replace oranges with sliced pears.
3. Nut-Free Version
   Use toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
4. Creamy Dressing Option
   Mix yogurt + honey + lemon + olive oil.
5. Sweet Potato Holiday Salad
   Add roasted sweet potato cubes for warmth.
6. Balsamic Christmas Salad
   Use balsamic + honey dressing instead.
7. Mint Citrus Salad
   Add fresh chopped mint for brightness.
8. Goat Cheese & Fig Salad
   Use figs (fresh or dried) + goat cheese.
9. Avocado Christmas Salad
   Add diced avocado for creaminess.
10. Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
    Add sliced apples + cranberries + feta.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I make this ahead?
   Yes, but keep dressing separate until serving.
2. What greens work best?
   Spring mix, baby spinach, or arugula.
3. Can I use canned mandarin oranges?
   Yes — drain well.
4. What cheese is best?
   Feta or goat cheese for tang.
5. How do I toast nuts?
   Bake at 350°F for 6–8 minutes or toast in a skillet.
6. Can I use bottled dressing?
   Yes — balsamic or citrus vinaigrette.
7. How do I keep apples from browning?
   Toss in lemon juice.
8. Can this salad be vegan?
   Yes — use maple syrup instead of honey and vegan cheese.
9. Can I add protein?
   Yes — grilled chicken or turkey slices.
10. Why pomegranate?
    Adds color, crunch, and holiday sparkle.

🏁 Conclusion

This Yummy Christmas Salad is fresh, crisp, vibrant, and full of holiday cheer. The juicy pomegranate, bright citrus, crunchy nuts, and creamy cheese create a perfect balance of flavors and textures that complement any festive meal. Easy to make and stunning to serve, it’s a holiday essential you’ll return to year after year.

Yummy Christmas Salad – Fresh, Festive & Bursting With Holiday Flavor

This Yummy Christmas Salad is bright, fresh, colorful, and packed with festive flavors that perfectly balance rich holiday mains. With crisp greens, juicy fruit, crunchy nuts, creamy cheese, and a zesty homemade dressing, this salad brings a refreshing pop to any Christmas table. It’s simple, beautiful, and incredibly flavorful — the kind of dish that makes everyone reach for seconds. Perfect alongside turkey, beef, chicken, or as a light holiday lunch on its own.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 3 Servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Ingredients

  

Salad Base

• 6 cups mixed spring greens or baby spinach
• 1 cup pomegranate arils
• 1 cup mandarin orange segments fresh or canned, drained
• ½ cup thinly sliced cucumbers
• ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
• ½ cup feta or goat cheese crumbled
• ½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts or almonds

Citrus Honey Dressing

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Optional Add-Ins

• Diced avocado
• Dried cranberries
• Apple slices
• Roasted sweet potatoes small cubes

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Large salad bowl
• Small mixing bowl (for dressing)
• Whisk
• Cutting board
• Knife

Method

 

Step 1: Prepare the Dressing

1. In a small bowl whisk together:
2. olive oil
3. orange juice
4. lemon juice
5. honey
6. Dijon mustard
7. salt
8. pepper
9. Whisk until smooth and emulsified.
10. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity as needed.

Step 2: Build the Salad

In a large bowl, layer:

1. Mixed greens or spinach
2. Pomegranate arils
3. Mandarin orange slices
4. Cucumbers
5. Red onions
6. Crumbled cheese
7. Toasted pecans
8. Keep ingredients layered if serving later — toss just before serving.

Step 3: Toss & Serve

1. Right before serving:
2. Drizzle dressing over the salad
3. Toss gently
4. Top with extra pomegranate or nuts for decoration
5. Serve immediately.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead

Dressing: store separately up to 1 week

Salad base: store undressed up to 1 day

Do not pre-toss — greens will wilt

To prep ahead:
Assemble everything except nuts and dressing. Add them right before serving.

🥄 Variations

Cranberry Christmas Salad
Add dried cranberries + apples.

Pomegranate & Pear Salad
Replace oranges with sliced pears.

Nut-Free Version
Use toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.

Creamy Dressing Option
Mix yogurt + honey + lemon + olive oil.

Sweet Potato Holiday Salad
Add roasted sweet potato cubes for warmth.

Balsamic Christmas Salad
Use balsamic + honey dressing instead.

Mint Citrus Salad
Add fresh chopped mint for brightness.

Goat Cheese & Fig Salad
Use figs (fresh or dried) + goat cheese.

Avocado Christmas Salad
Add diced avocado for creaminess.

Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
Add sliced apples + cranberries + feta.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I make this ahead?
Yes, but keep dressing separate until serving.

What greens work best?
Spring mix, baby spinach, or arugula.

Can I use canned mandarin oranges?
Yes — drain well.

What cheese is best?
Feta or goat cheese for tang.

How do I toast nuts?
Bake at 350°F for 6–8 minutes or toast in a skillet.

Can I use bottled dressing?
Yes — balsamic or citrus vinaigrette.

How do I keep apples from browning?
Toss in lemon juice.

Can this salad be vegan?
Yes — use maple syrup instead of honey and vegan cheese.

Can I add protein?
Yes — grilled chicken or turkey slices.

Why pomegranate?
Adds color, crunch, and holiday sparkle.

🏁 Conclusion

This Yummy Christmas Salad is fresh, crisp, vibrant, and full of holiday cheer. The juicy pomegranate, bright citrus, crunchy nuts, and creamy cheese create a perfect balance of flavors and textures that complement any festive meal. Easy to make and stunning to serve, it’s a holiday essential you’ll return to year after year.