Description
A vibrant and festive Christmas Salad combining tender massaged kale, tangy goat cheese, sweet pomegranate seeds, and crunchy candied walnuts, all brought together with a flavorful maple-balsamic dressing. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a healthy seasonal meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 bunches of kale (rinsed and dried, ribs and stems removed, leaves thinly sliced)
- 4 oz goat cheese (crumbled)
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds (about 1 large pomegranate)
- ⅓ cup candied walnuts (or candied pecans)
- Sea salt and pepper (to taste)
Dressing Ingredients
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Fresh or dried herbs (optional)
Instructions
- Make dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients—olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, minced garlic, sea salt, and optional herbs—into a blender and blend until smooth, or alternatively, add them to a mason jar and shake vigorously until well combined. You can prepare the dressing up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge.
- Massage kale: Place the thinly sliced kale in a large mixing bowl. Pour about half of the dressing over the kale. Using your hands, massage the dressing thoroughly into the kale leaves to soften them and help absorb the flavors. Add more dressing as needed, but you may not require it all. Reserve any extra dressing for future use.
- Build salad: Add the pomegranate seeds and crumbled goat cheese into the kale bowl, reserving a small amount of each for garnish. Toss everything together gently. Season the salad with sea salt and pepper to taste, and add more dressing if desired. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and top with the candied walnuts, remaining pomegranate seeds, and goat cheese for a festive presentation.
Notes
- Massaging the kale softens the texture and reduces bitterness, making it more palatable.
- The dressing can be made days in advance and stored refrigerated.
- Use candied pecans as an alternative to candied walnuts if preferred.
- Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary can enhance the dressing’s flavor.
- Reserve any leftover dressing for salads or as a marinade.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas salad, kale salad, festive salad, pomegranate salad, goat cheese salad, holiday salad, healthy salad, no-cook salad
