Description
Experience the spirit with our Christmas Salad, a combination of flavors and colors that perfectly captures the essence of the holiday season. This salad brings together fresh and tender baby spinach leaves, accompanied by the tangy bursts of mandarin oranges and cranberries. The toasted pecans provide a crunch while the crumbled goat cheese adds a touch of indulgence, to every bite. Completing this dish is a homemade dressing that adds a zesty and lively twist. Not just an ordinary salad it’s a celebration on your plate – promising to be the star attraction, at your holiday table while bringing joy to all your senses.
Ingredients
Salad Dressing:
⅓ c extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp honey
Juice of 1 large lime, freshly squeezed
Salad:
6 ounces baby spinach
1 c pecan halves, toasted (some finely chopped)
½ c dried cranberries
3 mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
⅓ c goat cheese, crumbled
⅓ c pomegranate arils (or more)
Instructions
To make the dressing combine ⅓ cup of virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard 3 tablespoons of honey and the juice of 1 large lime in a mason jar or small bowl. Close the jar tightly. Shake it vigorously or whisk everything in the bowl until well combined.
Now let’s assemble the salad. Start by placing a handful of baby spinach as the base in bowls. Next add segments from 3 mandarin oranges, ½ cup of dried cranberries and ⅓ cup of arils over the spinach. Sprinkle on 1 cup of toasted pecan halves (some chopped). Finally crumble some goat cheese (about ⅓ cup) over each salad.
Before serving drizzle the dressing over each salad bowl to give it that flavor kick.
Alternatively if you’re making a large portion for sharing toss together spinach, mandarin oranges, cranberries and most of the pecans (save some for topping) with the dressing, in a bowl. Then top it off with remaining pecans, pomegranate arils and crumbled goat cheese.
Enjoy this colorful Christmas Salad!
Notes
To ensure this Christmas Salad is gluten-free and just as delightful, pay close attention to a few key details. Firstly, when selecting Dijon mustard, read the label carefully – not all mustards are created equal, and some may contain gluten as an additive. Opt for a certified gluten-free brand to be on the safe side. Additionally, cross-contamination can be a concern, especially with ingredients like nuts. Choose pecans that are labeled gluten-free to avoid any traces of gluten from processing facilities.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
