The Salad I’m Bringing To Thanksgiving and Christmas
This salad has me texting all my friends to let them know I have found my new favorite holiday salad.
For years now I’ve been wanting to get a holiday salad in my recipe lineup that works well for all kinds of eaters at a holiday gathering.
Normally, my go-to salads for holidays are the brussels sprouts salad (YUM) and the layered beet and kale salad (GORGEOUS). Those are 10/10 for me. But not everybody in my family loves brussels, kale, and beets, if you know what I mean?
So this is a salad that speaks to almost everybody – myself included.
(Pictured here with some BBQ meatballs and mac and cheese – because I’m already hooked on it and making it for non-holidays, too!)
- Delicate greens
- Very thinly sliced apples
- Candied nuts
- Fluffy parm
- Sweet cider dressing with a bit of shallot
The dressing is SO fun – it’s sweet and festive with the tang of cider vinegar and shallot, and the warmth of cinnamon and maple. And the add-ins on the salad are easy and familiar (store-bought candied nuts, thank you very much).
As the annual salad-bringer in my family, this is what I’m bringing for Thanksgiving this year! And probably Christmas, too!
How To Make This Salad (Step-By-Step!)
1
Prep Ingredients.
Three main things: mince the shallot, and thinly slice the apple, and grate a bunch of fluffy parm. 🙂
1
Whisk the Dressing.
This can be done ahead of time! Just store it in the fridge.
2
Toss Salad with Dressing.
Do this right before serving! (I like to reserve some of the apples, walnuts, and Parmesan for making it pretty on top once it’s been tossed up.)
4
Serve! Pretty!
This works well in one big serving bowl, or on individual salad plates!
Holiday Salad with Cider Vinaigrette
Total Time:
15 minutesYield:
6–8 servings 1x
Description
My new favorite holiday salad! It’s festive, beautiful, and appealing for all kinds of eaters that might be at a family or friends gathering. 🙂
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 4-oz. package spring mix
- Half of a large apple, cut very very thinly on a mandoline
- 1/2 cup candied walnuts, cut into small pieces
- 2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Cider Vinaigrette:
- Half a shallot, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make Dressing: Whisk dressing ingredients or shake in a jar.Â
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl (I like to set aside a bit of Parmesan, apple, and candied nuts for topping).
- Dress Salad: Just before serving, add dressing to everything, and toss to combine. (Start with a little dressing, then toss, then add a bit more until you feel like you have enough.)
- Finish: Garnish with the remaining Parmesan, apple, and candied nuts on top. Fan the apples out in small clusters to make it look pretty 🙂Â
Notes
For the store-bought candied nuts, I’ve been loving the sweet maple walnuts (Diamond brand)!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Toss
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: holiday salad, thanksgiving salad, salad recipe
Three More Salads For The Holidays
And if you want a no-fuss green salad that’s even simpler, this is for you!
The post Holiday Salad with Cider Vinaigrette appeared first on Pinch of Yum.