Description
A vibrant and festive Winter Salad featuring fresh seasonal citrus, creamy avocado, crunchy candied nuts, salty feta cheese, and a sweet-tangy cranberry balsamic dressing, perfect for holiday gatherings and nutritious meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 oranges, rind removed and cut into segments
- 1 avocado, sliced or chopped
- Seeds from 1 pomegranate
- 10 ounces mixed baby greens
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup candied spiced nuts or toasted nuts such as pecans
Cranberry Balsamic Dressing
- 1/4 cup cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit: Peel and cut two oranges into segments, slice one avocado, and remove the seeds from one pomegranate carefully.
- Assemble the salad base: Place 10 ounces of mixed baby greens in a large salad bowl or distribute evenly between individual serving bowls.
- Add toppings: Top the greens with the orange segments, avocado slices, pomegranate seeds, 1 cup crumbled feta cheese, and 1 cup candied spiced nuts or your preferred toasted nuts.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup cranberry sauce, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste until smooth and well combined.
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the cranberry balsamic dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine or serve as-is for a layered presentation.
Notes
- Use toasted pecans or walnuts if candied spiced nuts are unavailable; you can easily make your own by tossing nuts with cinnamon, sugar, and a pinch of salt, then roasting.
- The salad can be prepared a few hours ahead, but add avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Adjust the amount of dressing according to your taste preference to keep the salad balanced and fresh.
- This salad pairs wonderfully with roasted chicken or grilled fish for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 505 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 575 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg
