Winter Pomegranate Salad

Name: Winter Pomegranate Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 10 ounces spring mix salad greens; 2 cups baby spinach; 2 small apples, thinly sliced; 2 baby mandarin oranges, peeled; 1 large pomegranate, seeded; 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped; 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar or lemon juice; 1 teaspoon dijon mustard (optional); ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

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Festive Winter Pomegranate Salad is studded with sweet pomegranate seeds, apples, oranges, and feta, all tossed in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It is the jewel of any holiday table! This winter salad requires a few pantry staples and is ready in literally just 10 minutes (or less if you are quick at chopping veggies!). It's the perfect side dish for any gathering.

The second the temperature drops, many of us lean on rich, hearty meals, like soups, casseroles, and roasts, often relying on starchy veggies for sustenance. But really, winter offers some of the brightest, most refreshing flavors, like hearty greens, tart apples, all types of citrus, ruby-red pomegranates, and more. This colorful salad celebrates all of that wintry abundance and adds a lovely pop of freshness. The beautiful colors make it extra special for Christmas dinner, but it's a welcome addition any night of the week!

Why You'll Love This Winter Pomegranate Salad

Ready in 10 minutes. This may be the best thing about this beautiful salad. What else can you make that only takes less than 10 minutes that tastes and looks this good? Whether you need a last minute salad for a holiday event or just want to add more greens to winter meals, this is the perfect choice.
Packed with flavor. This pomegranate salad features the perfect balance between sweet and tangy flavors. From the sweet fruits, to the nutty walnuts, to the sharp, tangy flavor of feta and the vinaigrette — it all works!
Festive side dish. Winter is notoriously dark and dreary, so why not add some color and whimsy to your meals? This is such a simple way to serve up extra fruits and veggies during an indulgent time of the year, and the bright colors and bold flavors will make you want to eat it every week.
Easy vegetarian option. If you're hosting a gathering and need dishes that meet a variety of dietary preferences, this is a great option. It is naturally vegetarian with crowd-pleasing flavors everyone will love!

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Winter Pomegranate Salad, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

salad greens - or your favorite type of mixed greens. Spring mix greens are tender, mild, and inexpensive, making them a great base.
baby spinach - for extra texture and color. Baby kale, baby arugula, or sliced radicchio or escarole would be a great alternative.
apples - look for firm, crisp apples, like Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, or Cosmic Crisp.
mandarin oranges - these can be fresh oranges that you peel or use mandarin oranges packed in water and strain off the liquid.
pomegranate seeds - you can either clean a whole pomegranate yourself or get a container of pomegranate arils from the produce section at your local grocery store.
walnuts - ideally toasted to bring out their flavor. Pecans, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds work nicely, as well.
feta cheese - or substitute with crumbled goat cheese. Blue cheese would taste great as well, but is more hit-or-miss when you're serving a crowd.
extra virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar - or for a milder flavor, substitute with lemon juice. Either option works well.
Dijon mustard - this is optional, but it helps emulsify the vinaigrette and make it nice and creamy.
salt + pepper

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, small mixing bowl, and large serving bowl.

How to Make the Best Winter Pomegranate Salad

Combine. In a large serving bowl, arrange salad mix, baby spinach, apple slices, mandarin slices, pomegranate, walnuts, and feta cheese.

Prepare dressing. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.

Toss and serve. Pour the dressing on the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately

Recipe Variations

Use kale. This salad would make a gorgeous winter kale salad, but I recommend either massaging the thin strips of kale first to make them tender. So nice for meal prep!
Add more produce. You don't need to add too much, but if you have leftover roasted veggies, like squash or sweet potatoes, they'd go really nicely with the fruity flavors. It'd also be lovely with some thinly sliced red cabbage, fresh fennel, avocado, or red onion.
Sweeten the dressing. Since the fruits are so sweet, I typically don't add any sweetness to the salad dressing, but you can certainly add a little honey or maple syrup to taste.
Add protein. For the meat eaters, consider offering grilled chicken breast or crumbled bacon as extra toppings.

How to Serve

This Winter Pomegranate Salad is delicious served on its own for lunch, or paired with some of my favorite entrees. It is especially good for Christmas dinner paired with a main course such as:

For more recipes, see our 25 Best Christmas Mains and Entrees.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Dress right before serving. Unlike kale or hearty winter greens, this recipe uses delicate leafy greens that will wilt after they sit in the dressing. For the best flavor, dress immediately before serving.
Make extra. Honestly, most of us could tolerate an extra plate of salad (or two) during this time of year. If you make an extra batch and leave it in the fridge, you can either portion it out for meal planning or enjoy a refreshing side salad with your leftover holiday entrees.
Toss or serve separately. If your guests have particular dietary constraints, consider serving any allergens on the side, like the nuts or cheese. Bonus - serving the feta on the side will make the salad vegan, as well.

Storing Instructions

This simple winter salad should be stored undressed, with the extra salad dressing in a mason jar on the side. It will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

FAQ

What fruits are in season in the winter?

The answer depends on where you live, but there are quite a few fruits that are either in season or fresh from storage during this time of year. Apples and pears are wonderful options as well as all types of citrus (lemon, lime, orange, blood orange, mandarins, etc.), pomegranates, persimmons, avocados, and more. Fortunately, most of these ingredients pair well together and would be right at home in this salad.

What type of dressing is best for a winter pomegranate salad?

I recommend using a vinaigrette as it will have enough acidity to balance the sweetness of the fruits. Keep it simple with balsamic vinaigrette or make a bright lemony vinaigrette for an extra pop of brightness. Apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar work, too. You can use store-bought dressing in a pinch, but I promise, it's easier, cheaper, and more flavorful to make it yourself at home!

How long can you make salad ahead of time?

If you want to prep the salad the day before or use it for meal prep, it can help to coat the apple pieces in lemon juice to keep them from browning. Store the greens and all the toppings in an airtight container in the fridge and either refrigerate the dressing or make it right before serving. The greens and toppings will stay fresh for about 2-3 days, but really, this delicious winter salad is so simple, you can easily throw it together right before your holiday dinner.

More Winter Salad Recipes

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