When it comes time to organize the vacation menu, few individuals clamor to be answerable for the “salad.” This Winter Salad tossed with kale, toasted pecans, crispy crimson onion, pomegranate, crumbled feta, and a yummy dijon dressing, nonetheless, may have you going again for seconds.

Why You’ll Love this Winter Salad Recipe
- Make Forward Pleasant. As a result of kale is a heartier inexperienced than spinach, kale salads may be dressed hours prematurely with out wilting; in truth, the longer this salad sits, the higher it will get. (The identical is true of this Winter Slaw.) Bonus factors, this simple winter salad gained’t occupy any area in your stovetop or oven, each of that are prime territory throughout a vacation meal.
- Wholesome Vacation Facet. Kale salad is simply not the type of dish that garners the moment appreciation that’s showered upon Tacky Scalloped Potatoes, however that doesn’t imply you don’t want it! It’s a shiny counterpoint to all the Mulled Wine and Glazed Candy Potatoes.
- Stunning Taste Combo. Like my different favourite vacation salads, Beet Salad, Apple Walnut Salad and the Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Salad in The Nicely Plated Cookbook, the intense, recent flavors and delightful colours right here can sit proudly alongside even essentially the most tacky of potato dishes. The candy pops of pomegranate towards the salty, creamy feta and shiny crimson onions will hook you at first chunk.

5 Star Evaluate
“I’ve made it twice and completely liked it! Excellent mixture of flavors. Very simple.”
— Stefanie —

How one can Make Crisp Winter Salad
Dare to join the salad. This crimson and inexperienced winter salad with kale and pomegranate offers you motive to be pleased with your contribution.
It’s alive with taste, simple to make, and ultra-festive for Christmas or Thanksgiving.
The Elements
- Kale. Whereas usually considered as an undesirable ingredient, kale will get an opportunity to shine on this winter salad. It turns into tender as soon as coated within the Dijon dressing, and any bitterness is offset by the candy pops of pomegranate. Plus, it’s wealthy in antioxidants and vitamin-Ok.
- Pecan Halves. Pecans add a toasty, crunchy component.
- Purple Onion. I like the crisp chunk that crimson onions add to the salad.
- Pomegranate. These candy, bitter, and juicy little seeds are a pleasant addition. Additionally they present lovely, festive pops of colour, making this salad ultimate for a vacation unfold.
- Feta. Creamy, salty, and tacky deliciousness. This salad can be scrumptious with goat cheese or a light blue cheese.
- Winter Salad Dressing. Olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper create essentially the most mild, zippy, and scrumptious dressing that’s sturdy sufficient to carry as much as the kale.
The Instructions
- Toast the pecans. Whisk the dressing substances collectively.
- Toss the kale and onion with the dressing. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. High with pecans, pomegranate, feta, and parsley. DIG IN!
Tip!
To maintain the flavour of the crimson onions however mellow a few of their harsh afterbite, soak them in water earlier than including them to the salad.

Winter Salad Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Whereas this salad is greatest the day it’s made, you possibly can refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic storage container for as much as 2 days.
- Retailer any leftover dressing in a separate hermetic storage container.
Make Forward Ideas
Winter salad may be made as much as 8 hours prematurely (together with including the dressing—in truth, it will likely be higher should you do!). Retailer within the fridge till able to serve, or set out as much as 1 hour prematurely.
What To Serve With Winter Salad
- Salmon Wellington – Salmon Wellington is a simple however spectacular recipe you possibly can prep forward for entertaining. Salmon wrapped in puff pastry with spinach, then baked till golden, this salmon en croute is to die for!
- Rosemary Rooster Thighs with Apples and Brussels Sprouts – Crispy rosemary rooster thighs baked with apples, Brussels sprouts, and onions in a scrumptious honey mustard glaze. Wholesome, one pan, and simple clear up!
- One Skillet Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Italian Sausage – One Skillet Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Spinach. Wholesome, EASY recipe that cooks in only one pan! Pure consolation and so easy to make!
- Cordon Bleu Rooster – Crispy baked rooster sous-chef is a wholesome model of the traditional recipe. Tender rooster full of ham and cheese, breaded, and baked.
- Reducing Board. This one gained’t slip out from underneath you when you’re chopping.
- Mason Jar. The simplest method to combine and retailer dressing.
- Measuring Spoons. A kitchen software nobody ought to be with out.
For the Winter Salad:
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- 1/2 small crimson onion
- 10 ounces kale stems eliminated and chopped into ribbons (if utilizing bagged, pre-cut kale, use 8 ounces)
- 1 small pomegranate to yield 1/2 cup seeds
- 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped recent parsley
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Preheat your oven to 350 levels F. Unfold the pecans on an ungreased baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 5-10 minutes, tossing a couple of times all through, till toasted and aromatic. Watch fastidiously and set a timer in order that the nuts don’t burn. Take away from the baking sheet and put aside.
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Slice the onion thinly and place in a small bowl. Cowl with chilly faucet water and put aside for 10 minutes when you end getting ready the remainder of the salad (this may maintain the onion’s taste however forestall the onion from having such a harsh, uncooked chunk.) Drain the onion and evenly pat dry.
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Slice the pomegranate in half throughout its “equator” (NOT prime to backside). Working one half at a time, flip the pomegranate over an empty bowl, reduce facet down, and squeeze it gently all the way in which round to loosen the seeds. With the again of a picket spoon, firmly wrap the again of the pomegranate, knocking the seeds into the bowl (watch out—the juice can splatter). Rotate the pomegranate then repeat, so that you simply faucet all of it the way in which round and knock out as many seeds as doable. Slice the pomegranate into massive wedges and take away any seeds you missed along with your fingers. Repeat with the second half. Measure out 1/2 cup of the seeds for the recipe, then save the remaining for a special use.
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In a small bowl or massive measuring cup, whisk collectively all the dressing substances: olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you possibly can shake all the substances collectively in a tightly sealed mason jar.
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Place the kale and onion slices in a big serving bowl. Pour the dressing excessive. Toss to coat, then let the salad relaxation within the fridge for 20 minutes if time permits (the flavors will meld and the kale will grow to be extra tender). Simply earlier than serving, sprinkle with the toasted pecans, pomegranate seeds, feta, and parsley. Toss evenly and serve.
- TO MAKE AHEAD: Winter salad may be made as much as 8 hours prematurely (together with including the dressing—in truth, it will likely be higher should you do!). Retailer within the fridge till able to serve, or set out as much as 1 hour prematurely.
Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 376kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 10gFats: 28gSaturated Fats: 7gLdl cholesterol: 25mgPotassium: 619mgFiber: 5gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 7368IUVitamin C: 96mgCalcium: 269mgIron: 2mg
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