Last Updated June 22nd, 2019 at 06:36 pm by Lisa
A festive, easy, healthy Christmas Tree Salad (Christmas Salad) with a Mason Jar Cranberry Vinaigrette will be the talk of your holiday or Christmas party!
Serve on a holiday paper wrapped cutting board tied with a festive bow!
The Christmas Tree Salad is…
HEALTHY! And full of good-for-you ingredients like:
- Spinach (or chopped lettuce of your choice): Full of valuable vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids!
- Bell peppers: Packed with Vitamin C!
- Pistachios: High in plant protein!
- Pomegranate seeds: Tons of antioxidants!
TIP: How to remove pomegranate seeds
The homemade Cranberry Vinaigrette is also full of good-for-you ingredients:
- Cranberry juice: Great for your heart!
- Apple cider vinegar: Helps with blood sugar control!
- Olive oil: Is anti-inflammatory!
It’s the best way to sneak a bunch of fruits and veggies into your Christmas or holiday dinner party.
Christmas Salad and Christmas Dressing Ingredients
Here is exactly what you need for the Christmas Tree Salad:
- 8 cups of fresh spinach leaves
- 1 red bell pepper cut in thin long strips
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1/2 cup pistachios
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 2-3 slices of apple cut into star shapes using cookie cutters
And here are the Cranberry Vinaigrette ingredients. If you would prefer to use another dressing, go for it!
- 4 tablespoons cranberry juice
- 3 tablespoons cranberry sauce (optional but highly recommended because it adds great color to the dressing!)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 orange zest & juiced
- 4 tablespoons Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher sea salt
The Cranberry Vinaigrette takes just minutes to make in a mason jar and is a great way to use up cranberry sauce!
How to Make a Christmas Tree Salad
Step 1: Wrap cutting board or square board in wrapping paper of your choice, or simply serve from a platter. Tie festive bow & tuck tongs under the bow.
TIP: Have fun coming up with your own way to decorate your tree, and you could wrap any large cutting board or flat platter you have on hand or even buy an inexpensive thin square board from the hardware store.
Step 2: Place spinach (or chopped lettuce of your choice) in the shape of a Christmas tree.
TIP: Get kids involved in these next few steps if you’d like! They’ll have so much fun decorating the Christmas tree.
Step 3: Add “garland” of red bell pepper. Cut into thin long strips.
Step 4: Add “ornaments” of pomegranate seeds and pistachios.
Step 5: Add “snow” of feta cheese.
Step 6: Add “tree topper and stars” of apples using different star-shaped cookie cutters.
Step 7: Drizzle with Cranberry Vinaigrette or dressing of your choice.
How to Make Cranberry Vinaigrette
Step 1: Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a mason jar, put the lid on and shake until combined… that’s it!
Other Toppings for Your Christmas Green Salad
This Christmas green salad is only limited by your imagination! Here are a few more Christmas salad topping ideas:
- Pecans
- Dried cranberries
- Red tomatoes
- Red grapes
- Sliced almonds
- Walnuts
Cranberry Sauce Recipe for the Cranberry Vinaigrette
The dressing calls for an optional 3 tbsp cranberry sauce. I highly recommend it because of the wonderful color it adds to the dressing. You can make my Pineapple-Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe to serve for Christmas dinner and to use in the vinaigrette… you won’t regret it! That’s my favorite cranberry sauce recipe because it’s sweeter than typical cranberry sauce.
If you are looking for a traditional cranberry sauce recipe, try this one from Williams Sonoma!
This festive holiday salad will be the talk of your holiday or Christmas party… I promise.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
All the Best,
Lisa
XO
Christmas Tree Salad + Cranberry Vinaigrette Dressing – Holiday Party Entertaining
Ingredients
Christmas Tree Salad:
- 8 cups of fresh spinach leaves
- 1 red bell pepper cut in thin long strips
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1/2 cup pistachios
- 1/2 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
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher sea salt
Instructions
Make the Salad:
- Wrap cutting board or square board in wrapping paper of your choice, or simply serve from a platter. Tie festive bow & tuck tongs under bow.
- Place spinach (or chopped lettuce of your choice) in the 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 stars” of apples using different star-shaped cookie cutters.
- Drizzle with Cranberry Vinaigrette or dressing of your choice.
Make the Vinaigrette:
- Add all vinaigrette ingredients to mason jar, put the lid on and shake until combined!
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!