Bright, festive & full of flavor – this Citrus Christmas Salad is the perfect holiday side dish! Made with juicy oranges, fresh pomegranates, tangy goat cheese & candied pecans all tossed in a sweet orange-maple dressing. It’s make-ahead friendly + looks absolutely stunning on the dinner table!
Deck the halls…and the salad bowl! This Citrus Christmas Salad brings a burst of holiday color and flavor to your Christmas table.
Whenever I’m making my menu for the holidays, I always like to include at least one salad – just to keep things light and fresh. This Christmas salad has been a standout favorite for the past few years! It’s full of bright citrus, creamy goat cheese and crunchy pecans creating a beautiful mix of textures and flavors.
I love that feels indulgent yet healthy with an irresistble orange-maple dressing to tie it all together. Plus it’s ready in just 15 minutes so I can spend more time with family and friends!😉 If you’re looking for an show-stopping Christmas side dish – this is IT!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Mixed greens: I use a 50/50 lettuce blend for ours but feel free to your favorite salad mix. Spring mix, baby spinach or a winter green mix would also be delicious.
Oranges: Fresh juicy oranges add bright citrusy sweetness. Navel oranges, cara cara or mandarins all work beautifully.
Pomegranate arils: These little ruby gems bring a burst of tartness and a festive pop of color.
Goat cheese: Creamy tangy goat cheese adds richness and ties all the flavors together. (Make sure to crumble it finely so you get a little bit in every bite.)
Candied pecans: Crunchy and sweet with a hint of caramel – they’re the perfect contrast to the salad’s bright citrusy notes. Use store bought or your favorite homemade version. (We’ve been using store bought praline pecans.)
Olive oil: Used as the base of the dressing. I’d recommend using a light tasting olive oil so it doesn’t overpower the other flavors. (We use Bertolli’s Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil.)
Maple syrup: Naturally sweetens the dressing and gives it a cozy holiday warmth. (Use pure maple syrup for the best results.)
Apple cider vinegar: Adds brightness and acidity to balance the sweet oranges and maple syrup.
Dijon mustard: I love the subtle tang this adds! Plus it helps emulsify the dressing.
Seasonings: Salt and black pepper are needed to season the dressing.
How to Make A Citrus Christmas Salad
1. Make the vinaigrette. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small jar or measuring glass until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Slice the oranges. Cut a slice off the top and bottom of each orange to expose the flesh. Place the oranges upright on your cutting board and (following the contour of the orange) slice the peel off to expose the flesh. Then cut along the sections of the orange into slices.
3. Assemble & serve. Place the mixed greens, orange segments, pomegranate arils, goat cheese and candied pecans in a large serving bowl. Toss in your desired amount of dressing until the salad is fully coated. Serve immediately. (Alternatively you can top each individual bowl with candied pecans after the salad’s been dressed.)
Variations
Get creative and make this salad your own! (I just love how easy it is to customize.) Whether you’re swapping in ingredients you already have or adjusting for picky eaters – there’s so many ways to play with it’s flavors. Here are a few yummy variations to try!
Switch the greens! Use baby spinach, arugula or even massaged kale instead.
Citrus! Try mandarins, blood oranges or even grapefruit for a slightly different sweet-tart balance.
Cheese! Crumbled feta, shaved parmesan or tangy blue cheese each bring their own festive flavor.
Swap the nuts! Candied walnuts, pistachios or sliced almonds would be a fabulous replacement.
Why you’ll love this Christmas Salad recipe!
- A healthy holiday side dish! Juicy oranges, crisp greens & pops of pomegranate – this salad brings a burst of freshness to heavier holiday dishes.
- Easy to prep ahead! You can segment the oranges, prep the greens and whisk the dressing in advance, making assembly on the big day super quick.
- Versatile & customizable! Swap the greens, nuts or citrus to make this Christmas salad your own!
- Colors that “wow”! The reds, greens and vibrant citrus practically decorate the table for you – this festive salad will instantly elevate any holiday spread.
More salad recipes you might like:
- Citrus Pomegranate Kale Salad with Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette
- Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Salad
- Autumn Pearl Cosucous Salad with Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
- Apple White Cheddar Kale Salad with Cider-Dijon Dressing
[Made one of my recipes? Tag my Instagram @kalefornia_kravings & leave a review in the comments – I love seeing what you create!]
Citrus Christmas Salad with Orange-Maple Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 4-6 cups mixed greens
- 2-3 large navel oranges
- ¾ cup pomegranate arils
- ½-⅔ cup crumbled goat cheese
- ½ cup candied pecans, halved or left whole
For the maple-cider dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 Tbsp maple syrup
- 3 Tbsp fresh orange juice
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Make the dressing. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small jar or measuring glass until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Slice the oranges. Cut a slice off the top and bottom of each orange to expose the flesh. Place the oranges upright on your cutting board and (following the contour of the orange) slice the peel off to expose the flesh. Then cut along the sections of the orange into slices.
- Assemble & serve. Place the mixed greens, orange segments, pomegranate arils, goat cheese and candied pecans in a large serving bowl. Toss in your desired amount of dressing until the salad is fully coated.Serve immediately. (Alternatively you can top each individual bowl with candied pecans after the salad's been dressed.)
Would Cara Cara oranges work with this too
Absolutely! 🙂