This Christmas Salad is a family staple every year around the holidays. The gorgeous spinach salad greens sprinkled with red pomegranate seeds, mandarin oranges, and white feta cheese lends such a festive flair to our buffet table. The creamy poppy seed dressing is so delicious and is really simple to make. The holiday season can be filled with a lot of rich comfort food, so this light and fresh salad is a nice addition to the spread.
Ingredients in Christmas Salad
“Spring Mix” lettuce Mandarin oranges Dried cranberries Pomegranate seeds (pomegranate arils) Feta cheese Candied walnuts or pecans
Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients
Mayonnaise Greek yogurt Sugar Apple cider vinegar Poppy seeds
A Great Way to Use Leftovers
This salad is a light side that complements a traditionally heavy ham or turkey dinner. However, it also jazzes up Thanksgiving leftovers like you wouldn’t believe! Sometimes, we add shredded turkey to the top and make it more of a main course. It’s so yummy. Try this recipe and make it a part of your holiday meal traditions!
Substitutions for Christmas Salad
The beauty of a festive salad recipe is literally anything goes! You can add or subtract as many ingredients as you wish. Use this recipe below as a base, and then let your imagination run wild. Here are some ideas of how you can switch it up:
Pomegranate seeds add such a delightfully tart crunch to this Christmas Salad. But if pomegranates aren’t in season where you are, add strawberries, roasted beets, red onions, or raspberries for pops of red color. Diced red or green apple slices will add more crunch, color, and flavor! Oven roasted beets or pickled beets can also be a beautiful and flavorful addition! Cut them into small dices or slices and add them to your salad. Turn this Christmas Salad into a summer supper with pineapple and sliced grilled chicken on top. Toss in a handful of baby spinach leaves for more greenery. Those extra vitamins can’t hurt, either! Feta cheese gives this salad some bulk and a buttery, tangy flavor. But, you could substitute it for goat cheese, cubed mozzarella, blue cheese, or ricotta cheese for a different taste. Or, a mixture of multiple cheeses for added calcium. Slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, or cashews would be a delicious substitute for walnuts or pecans. There are also some insanely delicious nut mixes found in the produce section of most grocery stores. Top with some seasoning or shake on a little salt and pepper. If Poppy Seed Dressing is not your favorite and wine or berry vinaigrette makes a good substitution. Try adding a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice or orange juice or a drizzle of honey. Add any other vegetables you like. Such a versatile salad! For a fun decorative way to serve: arrange the salad on a platter like a Christmas wreath with the dressing in the center.
Creamy Poppyseed Dressing
The poppy seed dressing is so sweet and creamy, I could eat it with a spoon! My mom routinely substitutes the sugar with Splenda or other sugar substitutes, so you can do that too. Or, add additional sugar for a little more sweetness. The dressing includes mayonnaise and greek yogurt, but you can use greek yogurt for all of it if you’d like. Any way you make it, it is delicious on this Christmas Salad. Serve the dressing mixed in immediately or keep it in a jar in the fridge until ready to serve.
Festive Presentation Ideas
I like to put the salad in a pretty serving bowl and serve it with the dressing on the side so people can pour on their desired amount of dressing. You could also set up a salad bar and have all the ingredients in separate bowls so guests can mix and match salad toppings to their liking. Place the bowl of Christmas salad inside a simple green wreath on either a buffet table or Christmas dinner table.
Read Next: Christmas Dinner Ideas
More Christmas Salad Ideas
We have so many gorgeous salad recipes that are perfect for Christmas dinner. If you are a fan of this Christmas Salad, try a few of our other favorites:
How to Make a Christmas Salad
Beet Salad
Wedge Salad
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Waldorf Salad
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