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November 12, 2023

Holiday Green Salad with Fruit

An Easy Christmas Salad Recipe!

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Easy holiday salad recipe with fruit and balsamic vinaigrette.

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Looking to add a fresh twist to your holiday spread? This holiday salad with fruit brings a burst of seasonal flavors to the table. With a medley of crisp greens, juicy apples, candied pecans, and more, it’s the perfect blend of festive cheer and refreshing taste. A perfect and easy Thanksgiving or Christmas salad recipe!

Holiday Green Salad with Fruit Recipe

  • Prep time: 15 mins

  • Cook time: 5 mins

  • Total time: 20 mins

  • Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

  • Salad

    • 5 oz goat cheese, crumbled

    • 4 cups chopped kale

    • ½ cup pomegranate seeds

    • 1 large apple

    • 1 tsp olive oil

    • Pinch sea salt

  • Candied Pecans

    • 1 cup pecan halves

    • 6 Tbsps brown sugar

    • 1 Tbsp water

    • 1 tsp cinnamon

    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

    • Pinch sea salt

  • Balsamic Vinaigrette

    • 6 Tbsps olive oil

    • 2 Tbsps balsamic vinegar

    • 2 tsp Dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. Prepare candied pecans. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, water, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Whisk until combined and heat until it just begins to bubble.

  2. Add pecans and stir until the pecans are thoroughly coated. Continue cooking to 2-3 minutes, or until the pecans are coated, and the brown sugar mixture is sticky. 

  3. Remove the pecans from the pan and spread onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment into a single layer to cool completely.

  4. Prepare the balsamic vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard until homogeneous. 

  5. Massage the kale. In a large bowl, add the kale, olive oil, and sea salt. With clean hands, massage the kale by scrunchy handfuls of leaves until the kale has softened and is darker in color.

  6. Slice Apple. Cut the apple into thin wedges, removing the core and seeds.

  7. Assemble the salad. In a large serving bowl, add kale, apples, pomegranate seeds, goat cheese, candied pecans, and balsamic vinaigrette, and toss to combine. Dress with balsamic vinaigrette just before serving.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1

Prepare candied pecans. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, water, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Whisk until combined and heat until it just begins to bubble.

Heating brown sugar, water, cinnamon, vanilla and salt ready to toast pecans in a Christmas and Thanksgiving salad recipe.
Heating brown sugar, water, cinnamon, vanilla and salt ready to toast pecans in a Christmas and Thanksgiving salad recipe.
SANTA.COM

Step 2

Add pecans and stir until the pecans are thoroughly coated. Continue cooking to 2-3 minutes, or until the pecans are coated, and the brown sugar mixture is sticky.

Coating pecans in a sweet syrup ready to add to a Christmas or Thanksgiving green salad recipe.
Coating pecans in a sweet syrup ready to add to a Christmas or Thanksgiving green salad recipe.
SANTA.COM

Step 3

Remove the pecans from the pan and spread onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment into a single layer to cool completely.

Pecans spread on a baking sheet to cool before being added to a holiday salad recipe.
Pecans spread on a baking sheet to cool before being added to a holiday salad recipe.
SANTA.COM

Step 4

Prepare the balsamic vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard until homogeneous. 

Preparing a vinaigrette to add to a simple holiday salad with fruit.
Preparing a vinaigrette to add to a simple holiday salad with fruit.
SANTA.COM

Step 5

Massage the kale. In a large bowl, add the kale, olive oil, and sea salt. With clean hands, massage the kale by scrunchy handfuls of leaves until the kale has softened and is darker in color.

Massaging kale until soft, as part of a Thanksgiving salad recipe.
Massaging kale until soft, as part of a Thanksgiving salad recipe.
SANTA.COM

Step 6

Slice Apple. Cut the apple into thin wedges, removing the core and seeds.

Slicing apples into slices ready to go into a Christmas salad with fruit.
Slicing apples into slices ready to go into a Christmas salad with fruit.
SANTA.COM

Step 7

Assemble the salad. In a large serving bowl, add kale, apples, pomegranate seeds, goat cheese, candied pecans, and balsamic vinaigrette, and toss to combine. Dress with balsamic vinaigrette just before serving.

Assembling a Thanksgiving or Holiday salad with fruit.
Assembling a Thanksgiving or Holiday salad with fruit.
SANTA.COM

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