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This Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing is my go-to “house” salad. I make it on repeat all winter long, but especially over the holidays. Mixed greens, avocado, juicy pomegranates, sweet and spicy maple-roasted walnuts, and plenty of crumbled cheese. All tossed together with a delicious honey mustard dressing. It’s simple to put together, healthy, and pairs perfectly with just about any meal. You’ll never tire of this beautiful winter salad.
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You all, I really was torn on just what recipe to share today. It’s the Friday before Christmas Eve and I was stumped on what everyone might be looking for the most. Yet another appetizer? A holiday side dish? Something sweet to snack on?
I had plenty of ideas, but in the end, my mom and I decided on my Christmas salad. This is the salad I make almost nightly over the next 2 weeks. It’s never made the exact same way twice, but the base is almost always the same.
Plenty of fresh greens, avocado, pomegranate arils, and a really delicious dressing.
Throughout the winter months, dinners get especially cozy, which means vegetables are not usually the main focus. It’s always nice when we have people in town to prepare a simple salad for everyone’s plate.
It’s something they can easily take or leave. But I’m not going to lie, the salad almost always disappears by the end of dinner.
We love a side of garlic bread, but we also love a good side salad too! This salad really has been my staple for years. I can make it in just minutes and everyone will always enjoy it as long as there are greens, avocado, and cheese.
We’re big avocado people…and even bigger cheese people.
Details
I always start off my salads with nuts and seeds. Usually, I’ll make more than the salad will require so I can have extra on hand.
My favorite combination is walnuts, pumpkin seeds, maple, smoked paprika, and chili powder. That spicy, sweet, salty, flavor is one that everyone really enjoys.
They add crunchiness and a really nice spicy, smoky flavor to the salad.
For the salad itself, I almost always do a mix of spring greens with arugula or Frisée. I can’t always find Frisée, so that’s when I’ll use arugula.
Then apples, because I always have them. Avocado because my family can’t do a salad with them. And pomegranates, because I personally think they’re one of the best additions to a green salad you can use.
And that’s it, just add the cheese. I love to use a crumbled blue, but will also use goat cheese and or feta. Our favorite is blue cheese, then goat, then feta. Use what you and your family love most though.
Finally, the honey mustard dressing. It’s a tangy, creamy, honey mustard with dijon, balsamic, or sometimes I’ll switch it up and use apple cider vinegar. I always add honey, fig preserves, and chili flakes.
Add a bit of orange zest + juice for tang. You can use lemon too. But I love using orange in the winter.
And that completes my Christmas Salad. As I mentioned, it kind of changes nightly, but this is my favorite “variation”. And I think it’s my family’s too.
It’s simple, but full of just the right amount of sweet and tangy flavors, perfect!
Looking for other winter salad recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Winter Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Super Green Sun-Dried Tomato Herb Salad
Citrus Avocado Salad with Orange Tahini Vinaigrette
Kale Caesar Salad with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Chickpeas
Lastly, if you make this Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw walnuts
- 1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 cup honey or maple
- 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 2 cups Frisée
- 1-2 apples or pears, chopped
- 2 avocados, sliced
- 2 cups pomegranate arils
- 1 cup crumbled blue cheese, feta, or goat cheese
Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic 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 and black pepper
- chili flakes
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the walnuts and pumpkin seeds with the honey/maple syrup, chili powder, and salt. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring once throughout cooking, until the walnuts are toasted. Remove from the oven and spread the walnuts in one layer. Sprinkle with flaky salt.2. Add the greens to a large salad bowl. Add the apple, avocados, and pomegranate. Sprinkle on the cheese and nuts. Gently toss the salad.3. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and shake to combine. Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Wowie! This was a DELICIOUS salad recipe. I didn’t have fig preserves handy so I substituted apricot jam and it hit the spot. Thanks so much for another fabulous recipe. This one is a keeper for sure.
Hey Colleen,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
I don’t see smoked paprika listed in ingredients but it’s mentioned in your description of your favorite nut mix and is listed in step 1. How much is used?
Hey Cindi,
So sorry for any confusion, there’s no paprika in this recipe:) Let me know if you give it a try, I hope you love it! xT
I made this for Christmas dinner…it was delicious! I didn’t have pumpkin seeds nor frisée but it was still incredible. This will be a Christmas Day tradition from now on
Hey Terri,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Was a Christmas hit!
Hey Ann,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Everything you make is fabulous. I made this last night. Easy and so good. Thank you!
Hey Heidi,
Happy Holidays!!☃️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
Do you recommend a substitute for the walnuts if there’s a walnut allergy? Thanks!!
Hi Mallory,
Any other nut will work if you can use those or pumpkin seeds would also be great! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it’s a hit! xT
Just made the dressing for tomorrow and wow – the orange zest / juice and fig preserves take it over the top good! Thx and Happy Holidays 🎄
Hey Jen,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄
Hey, the directions mention paprika, but the ingredient list doesn’t have that. Which part is correct? Thanks!
Hey Siri,
You can ignore the paprika, it’s not part of the recipe! So sorry! Happy Holidays! xT
Delicious! Made this last night for our pre-Christmas celebration and it was a big hit!
Hey Corie,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄
Any idea how much salt for the walnuts? Or maybe that is a typo too?
Hey Marisa,
You can just do a pinch of salt:) Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Looks incredible. How much paprika and salf do you use on the nuts (this wasn’t in recipe)? Thank you!1
Hey Linda,
Sorry, there is no paprika in this recipe and a pinch of salt. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
I so enjoy your salad recipes! The autumn honeycrisp and feta one is a personal favorite. Avocado sounds like a delicious idea and the dressing sounds good too! Thank you and have a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks so much Amy!! Let me know if you give this one a try, I hope you love it! xT
Sounds divine!!
How critical are the fig preserves? If critical, might there be a substitute option for them, by chance?
In her other, similar recipe she mentioned honey in place of the fig….but she might have a better alternative. 🙂
Thanks so much, Jenna – I’ll give honey a try!
Hi there,
You can use honey in place of the fig preserves:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Thank you for this great recipe. It will go great with the Christmas dinner I have planned. Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much Kristine!! I hope you love this recipe! Happy Holidays! xT
What amount of paprika do you recommend?
Hey Toni,
Sorry, that was a typo, no paprika in this recipe:) Let me know if you give it a try, I hope it’s delish! xT