Festive Citrus Pomegranate Salad with Feta and Candied Pecans Recipe
A festive and refreshing Christmas Salad combining mixed greens, sweet mandarin oranges, tangy pomegranate seeds, creamy feta, and crunchy candied pecans, all tossed in a zesty orange poppyseed dressing. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a light, colorful side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 6 cups mixed greens
- ¼ cup red onion, sliced
- 1 cup mandarin oranges (or clementines)
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup candied pecans (or walnuts)
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon poppyseeds
- Kosher salt to taste
- ⅓ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the mixed greens, sliced red onion, mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta cheese, and candied pecans.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the orange zest, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppyseeds, kosher salt, and olive oil until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Toss salad with dressing: Just before serving, drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl.
- Mix gently: Toss the salad gently to evenly coat all ingredients with the dressing, taking care not to bruise or wilt the delicate greens.
- Serve: Plate the salad immediately to enjoy its fresh, crisp texture and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Use fresh seasonal mandarin oranges or clementines for the best flavor; canned can be used in a pinch but may be sweeter and more watery.
- Candied pecans can be substituted with candied walnuts or toasted nuts of choice for variation.
- Adjust the honey and salt in the dressing to suit your preferred level of sweetness and seasoning.
- The salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the greens and the texture of the crunchy nuts.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
Keywords: Christmas salad, holiday salad, mixed greens salad, mandarin orange salad, pomegranate salad, feta cheese, candied pecans, poppyseed dressing, festive salad
