Winter Salad with Citrus, Pomegranate, Feta, and Candied Pecans Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing Winter Salad that combines mixed spring greens with sweet citrus segments, tangy pomegranate seeds, creamy feta cheese, and crunchy candied pecans, all tossed in a zesty honey-Dijon dressing. Perfect for a light and healthy meal during the colder months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad
- 7 cups mixed spring greens
- 1 1/4 cups mandarin orange segments (or oranges, clementines, or tangerines)
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (or substitute dried cranberries)
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup candied pecans, roughly chopped
For the Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the salad base: Place the mixed spring greens, mandarin orange segments, pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta cheese, and roughly chopped candied pecans in a large mixing bowl, ensuring an even distribution of all ingredients.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and minced shallot until the mixture is smooth and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients to your preference, then gently toss everything together to coat the greens and other components evenly without bruising the delicate leaves.
- Serve immediately: Transfer the dressed salad to serving plates or a salad bowl and serve right away for maximum freshness. Any leftover dressing can be stored refrigerated for future use.
Notes
- Substitute pomegranate seeds with dried cranberries if pomegranate is unavailable.
- For a nut-free version, omit the candied pecans or replace them with toasted seeds.
- To make this salad vegan, replace feta cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative and substitute honey with maple syrup.
- The salad is best served immediately to preserve the crispness of the greens and freshness of the citrus.
- Leftover dressing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Keywords: winter salad, mixed greens salad, citrus salad, pomegranate salad, feta cheese salad, candied pecans salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, easy dressing
