Description
A refreshing and vibrant Winter Salad featuring mixed spring greens, juicy citrus segments, tangy pomegranate seeds, creamy feta cheese, and crunchy candied pecans, all tossed in a sweet and tangy honey Dijon dressing. Perfect as a light appetizer or a side dish to brighten up cold season meals.
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 dried cranberries as substitute)
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 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 shallot, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Place the mixed spring greens, mandarin orange segments, pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta cheese, and candied pecans in a large bowl.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, minced shallot, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Drizzle the dressing over the salad mixture to your taste. Gently toss the salad to ensure all ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing. Note that some dressing may remain.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the salad promptly to enjoy its fresh and crisp flavors.
Notes
- For a nut-free option, substitute candied pecans with toasted pumpkin seeds or omit entirely.
- Use dried cranberries instead of pomegranate seeds if fresh are unavailable; they provide a similar tart sweetness.
- Adjust the amount of honey in the dressing to make it sweeter or more tangy depending on preference.
- This salad is best served fresh; the greens can wilt if dressed too far in advance.
- To candify pecans at home, toss pecans with a bit of sugar and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
