Winter Fruit Feta Salad with Cranberry Balsamic Dressing

What’s So Great About This Winter Salad Recipe

• Seasonal ingredients. Salads aren’t just for summertime! I love adapting my favorite salad recipes with the ingredients that come into season throughout the year. This salad has juicy oranges and pomegranate seeds for a festive twist.
• Anything but boring. All the textures and flavors of the fruit, nuts, avocado, and feta come together into a bright and delicious salad packed with the flavors of the holidays.
• Great for the holidays. This winter salad recipe is perfect to serve at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or, save it for the day after, and top it with your leftover turkey, ham, or roast beef for a satisfying meal salad!

Salad Ingredients

• Mixed baby greens – This can be a mesclun mix or any combination of young salad greens like arugula, spinach, mustard greens, and lettuce.
• Fresh oranges – Peel off the rind, removing all of the bitter, white pith. Then, slice the oranges into segments (see below).
• Avocado – Sliced or chopped. Choose firm, ripe avocados that yield to gentle pressure. Avoid mushy or discolored avocados that are past their prime.
• Pomegranate – Remove the arils (juicy seeds), or you can buy a container of pomegranate arils from the store that are ready to use.
• Feta cheese – You can also substitute blue cheese or goat cheese, or even a sharp white cheddar.
• Nuts – I like the sweet and spiced flavor of candied spiced nuts in this salad (and I always have big batches on hand during the holidays!). If needed, substitute honey-glazed walnuts, toasted pecans, or your favorite nut instead.

Get Creative With Add-ins

Feel like adding more to your winter salad? Go right ahead! Crumble cooked bacon on top, toss in cubes of roasted butternut squash, or sprinkle in pepitas or pumpkin seeds.

Which Dressing Should I Use?

I dress my winter salad with an easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette that combines vinegar and olive oil with leftover cranberry sauce. You can also skip the cranberry sauce and make a simple dressing with oil and vinegar instead.

If you’d prefer a different salad dressing, I’d suggest this sweet-tangy maple balsamic vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, or a simple red wine vinaigrette. And if you’re a fan of creamy salad dressings, I think this warm maple bacon dressing would taste amazing with this winter salad recipe!

How to Segment an Orange

Segmenting the orange involves removing the peel, pith, and membrane so you’re left with juicy little slices of orange, and nothing else. It’s my favorite way to prepare citrus for salads, and it’s very easy to do with a little patience:

1. Use a serrated knife to slice the top and bottom off the orange so the fruit peeks through at either end.
2. Then, working your way around the orange, slice off the rind from top to bottom, making sure you get all of the bitter pithy part.
3. Cut the peeled orange into segments along the membrane, so you can remove each orange segment while leaving the membrane intact.

How to Assemble This Winter Salad

Gather your ingredients, and follow the quick steps to assemble and dress your easy holiday salad.

• Make a base of greens. First things first, add your mixed salad greens to a large bowl.
• Segment the oranges. Next, peel and cut the orange into individual segments (see my How To above).
• Put the salad together. Lastly, arrange the orange segments on top of the greens. Add the avocado, pomegranate arils, and feta cheese, and sprinkle over the candied nuts.
• Dress and serve. Drizzle your dressing over the salad, and toss before serving.

Proper Storage

• Make-ahead. This winter salad is best prepared and eaten right away, though you can prepare the different components in advance. The candied nuts and dressing can be stored for several days before using them, and the oranges can be cut the day before and kept in a sealed container.
• Refrigerate leftovers. If you do happen to have leftovers, cover them tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the leftover salad to a container and store it in the refrigerator. If you have already tossed it with the dressing, you’ll want to eat it within a day or so.

Make it a Meal

This winter salad recipe is a perfect way to brighten up a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Enjoy it alongside a juicy roast turkey, glazed ham, or prime rib with more holiday sides like mashed potatoes and apple stuffing.

I also love serving this salad the day after a holiday, too (it’s great for using up leftovers!). Make it a soup and salad meal with turkey pot pie soup or ham and pea soup, and fluffy gluten-free crescent rolls. It’s also a tasty side salad with cozy winter dinners like black and blue steaks or roast chicken.

More Holiday Side Dish Recipes

• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
• Balsamic Roast Vegetables
• Wild Rice Stuffing
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
• Green Bean Casserole