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Winter Christmas Salad With Honey Mustard Dressing

Winter Christmas Salad With Honey Mustard Dressing
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Winter Christmas Salad With Honey Mustard Dressing is a vibrant and festive salad combining crisp mixed greens, sweet red apple, crunchy celery, tart dried cranberries, toasted nuts, and creamy feta or goat cheese. Tossed with a tangy-sweet homemade honey mustard dressing, this salad offers a perfect balance of fresh textures and flavors ideal for any holiday meal. Easy to prepare and fully customizable, it brings a refreshing and colorful touch to your Christmas table.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 4 cups mixed greens (spring mix or baby kale), rinsed and dried
  • 1 medium red apple, cored and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese

Honey Mustard Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the base: Rinse and dry your mixed greens thoroughly to avoid sogginess. Place them in a large salad bowl, creating a vibrant base for all your other ingredients.
  2. Chop the fruits and vegetables: Core and dice the red apple into bite-sized pieces, slice celery thinly for crunch, and measure out dried cranberries. These fresh components add texture and natural sweetness to your salad.
  3. Toast the nuts: In a small skillet, lightly toast pecans or walnuts over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Toasting enhances their flavor and adds an irresistible crunch.
  4. Make the honey mustard dressing: Whisk together honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. The balance of sweet and tangy will dress your salad perfectly.
  5. Assemble the salad: Toss the mixed greens, apples, celery, dried cranberries, and toasted nuts gently. Drizzle the honey mustard dressing over the top and give it one final toss to ensure every bite is coated in flavor.
  6. Add finishing touches: Sprinkle crumbled feta or goat cheese over the salad. This final creamy layer amps up richness and contrasts beautifully with the dressing.

Notes

  • Dry your greens well using a salad spinner or towel to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
  • Toast nuts carefully to avoid burning and maximize flavor.
  • Adjust the vinegar and honey in the dressing to fit your preferred balance of tangy and sweet.
  • Make the dressing ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for convenience.
  • Add the dressing just before serving to maintain crisp textures of the salad.

Nutrition

Keywords: winter salad, Christmas salad, honey mustard dressing, holiday salad, festive salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, gluten free salad

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/winter-christmas-salad-with-honey-mustard-dressing/