Festive Christmas Salad Recipe with Cranberries and Pecans

Last Updated December 22nd, 2022 at 12:04 am by Lisa

Present a festive red-and-green Christmas salad topped with a simple pomegranate vinaigrette. Bright pomegranate arils, D’Anjou pear “trees,” spicy candied pecans, dried cranberries and fresh raspberries give this salad a holiday look and flavor that pairs beautifully with a holiday dinner.

Christmas Salad Recipe

Create an elegant holiday menu by adding this salad to your Christmas table. It complements ham, roast turkey, beef roast, mashed potatoes and classic stuffing. The salad offers fresh, seasonal contrast to heavier mains and brings color and texture to your festive spread.

• Fresh spinach leaves
• Pomegranate arils (pomegranate seeds)
• Dried cranberries
• Fresh raspberries
• Toasted pecans or candied pecans for a sweet-spicy crunch
• D’Anjou pears (cut into tree shapes)
• Apple slices

Pomegranate Dressing

• Pomegranate juice (store-bought or freshly pressed)
• Apple cider vinegar
• Orange zest and orange juice
• Dijon mustard
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Worcestershire sauce
• Freshly cracked pepper
• Sea salt

Christmas Salad Decoration Ideas

There are many ways to dress up this holiday salad. Use different greens, add vegetables, experiment with cheeses and nuts, or arrange the salad into festive shapes like a wreath or a Christmas tree for a showstopping presentation.

• Mixed Greens: Substitute baby mixed greens, spring mix, baby kale, iceberg or romaine for the spinach.
• Fresh Vegetables: Try shaved Brussels sprouts, massaged kale, roasted beets, avocado, broccoli or cauliflower. Cherry or grape tomatoes read like ornaments on the salad. Thinly sliced green onions and cut red peppers add color; use small cookie cutters to create festive shapes.
• Add Cheeses: Blue cheese, goat cheese, crumbled feta or shaved parmesan add richness. Fresh mozzarella or small marinated mozzarella balls work well, too.
• Pickled Veggies: Pickled red onions or refrigerator pickled green beans add bright color and tang.
• Dressing Swap: Use champagne vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar for a lighter acidity.
• Christmas Shapes: Arrange the salad on a large platter into a wreath or tree and decorate with fruit and nuts for an eye-catching centerpiece.
• Nuts and Seeds: Try pistachios, walnuts, roasted pumpkin seeds or candied pecans. Toasted pine nuts with a pinch of sea salt are also excellent.
• Fresh Fruit: Sliced apples, grapes, orange or grapefruit segments and mandarins brighten the dish and add natural sweetness.

Making the Holiday Salad

1. Cut pears lengthwise into 1/2″ thick slices. Use a small tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out pear “trees.” Keep the cut pears in water with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning.
2. In a large salad bowl or on individual plates layer fresh spinach, pecans, pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries and raspberries. Arrange the pear trees on top. Serve the dressing on the side, or toss the salad with the dressing just before serving.
3. For the pomegranate mason-jar dressing: combine all dressing ingredients in a jar, close the lid and shake for about a minute until emulsified. Alternatively, whisk in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use and shake or whisk again before serving.

Holiday Salad Pear “Tree” Garnish

Slice pears into 1/2″ flat rounds, then press a small tree-shaped cutter into each slice to create Christmas tree garnishes. Plan on 4–5 trees per salad plate for a festive look.

How to Remove Pomegranate Arils (Seeds)

1. Trim about 1/2″ from the top crown of the pomegranate and set the top aside.
2. With a small knife, score the skin along the white pith from top to bottom, making shallow cuts without cutting through the center.
3. Make scores all the way around the fruit, then gently pull the sections apart and remove the core pith.
4. Hold each section over a bowl and use your fingers to loosen the arils, letting them fall into the bowl. Remove any white pith pieces that fall in with them.

Pomegranate Juice for Dressing

1. Place arils in a fine strainer set over a bowl.
2. Press the arils with a spoon to extract juice, collecting it in the bowl below.
3. Store fresh pomegranate juice in the refrigerator for a couple of days in a sealed container.

More Christmas Salad Ideas

A large salad is essential for the holiday table. Try shaping salads into a Christmas tree or wreath for a festive display, or choose from bright broccoli salad, a simple wedge salad, a layered trifle salad, or a classic Cobb. These options offer varied textures and flavors to round out your holiday meal.