Last Updated December 21st, 2022 at 11:03 pm by Lisa
A festive, easy, Christmas Salad with a Cranberry Vinaigrette (made in a Mason jar) will be the talk of your holiday party. Shape this salad like a Christmas tree and decorate it with "garland, ornaments, and snow".
Serve on a holiday paper-wrapped cutting board and tongs tied with a festive bow...
Christmas Salad Ingredients
- 8 cups of fresh spinach leaves (or any cut lettuce)
- 1 red bell pepper cut in thin long strips
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup pistachios
- ½ cup feta cheese
- 2-3 slices of apple cut into star shapes using cookie cutters
If you would prefer to use another dressing, try my Parmesan Lemon Vinaigrette, Green Goddess Dressing, or Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette.
Mix The Cranberry Vinaigrette
The Cranberry Vinaigrette takes just minutes to make in a mason jar and is a great way to use up cranberry sauce.
The dressing calls for 3 tablespoons of cranberry sauce. I highly recommend it because of the wonderful color it adds to the dressing, but it's not necessary. You can make some Pineapple-Orange Cranberry Sauce for Christmas dinner and use a little in the vinaigrette.
- cranberry juice
- cranberry sauce (optional, it adds color!)
- apple cider vinegar
- orange zest and orange juice
- Dijon mustard
- extra virgin olive oil
- Worcestershire sauce
- fresh cracked pepper
- kosher sea salt
Add cranberry juice, cranberry sauce, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, and zest, Dijon mustard olive oil, Worcestershire sauce sea salt, and pepper to a mason jar, put the lid on, and shake until combined... that's it.
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Or add all the ingredients into a bowl, and whisk well until combined.
How to Assemble A Christmas Tree Salad
PRO SERVING TIPS: Wrap a cutting board, flat platter, or square board in a wrapping paper of your choice. Tie a festive bow & tuck tongs under the bow, and serve the dressing in a small gravy boat.
Step 1: Place spinach (or chopped lettuce of your choice) in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Step 2: Add "garland" of red bell pepper. Cut into thin long strips.
Step 3: Add "ornaments" of pomegranate seeds and pistachios.
Step 4: Add "snow" of feta cheese.
Step 5: Add "tree topper and stars" of apples using different star-shaped cookie cutters.
Step 6: Drizzle with a Cranberry Vinaigrette or dressing of your choice.
Other Salad Topping Ideas
This Christmas green salad is only limited by your creativity. Here are a few more Christmas salad topping ideas.
- Candied Pecans
- Dried Cranberries
- Red Tomatoes
- Red Grapes
- Sliced Almonds
- Walnuts
- Sugared Cranberries
More Salad Recipes
Make a festive red and green holiday Christmas Salad with an easy pomegranate dressing. Top with gorgeous sparkling pomegranate seeds, D'Anjou pears for the little trees, Spicy Candied Pecans, ruby red dried cranberries, and juicy raspberries.
Or for a crowd, make a classic 7 Layer Salad. It's always a crowd-pleaser, and so pretty in a trifle bowl. Serve a simple elegant Wedge Salad with steaks like filet mignon or beef tenderloin. And for a colorful classic, serve Cobb Salad. This recipe comes right from the Los Angeles restaurant that made it famous in Hollywood.
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Christmas Tree Salad Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Christmas Tree Salad
- 8 cups of fresh spinach leaves
- 1 red bell pepper cut in thin long strips
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup pistachios
- ½ cup feta cheese
- 2-3 slices of apple cut into star shapes using cookie cutters
Cranberry Vinaigrette (or dressing of choice)
- 4 tablespoons cranberry juice
- 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce optional
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 orange zest & juiced
- 4 tablespoons Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher sea salt
Instructions
- Wrap cutting board or square board in wrapping paper of your choice, or simply serve from a platter. Tie a festive bow around the corner of the board and tuck in a pair of tongs.
- Add all vinaigrette ingredients to mason jar, put the lid on and shake until combined!
- Place spinach (or chopped lettuce of your choice) in a triangle shape of a Christmas tree.
- Add "garland" of red bell pepper. Cut into thin long strips.
- Add "ornaments" of pomegranate seeds and pistachios.
- Add "snow" of feta cheese.
- Add "tree topper and ornament stars" of apples using different star-shaped cookie cutters.
- Drizzle with Cranberry Vinaigrette or dressing of your choice.
Notes
Cranberry Sauce
Use some cranberry sauce to add color to the dressing, it is optional but great.Other Salad Topping Ideas
- Candied Pecans
- Dried Cranberries
- Red Tomatoes
- Red, Green, or Burgandy Grapes
- Sliced Almonds
- Walnuts
- Sugared Cranberries
Serving Tips
- Wrap a cutting board, flat platter, or square board in wrapping paper of your choice.
- Tie a festive bow & tuck tongs under the bow.
- Serve the dressing in a small gravy boat.
- Store the dressing in a Mason jar in the fridge for up to a week. Rest on the kitchen counter about 30 minutes, give it a good shake and serve.
I make this one regularly, but on non-holidays I admit I don't go the extra mile of cutting the pear with cute cookie cutters (I used stars at Christmas). I love this salty and sweet combination and it's a lively looking and tasting salad. When poms aren't in season I substitute with dried cherries or cranberries. The dressing is phenom!