Description
This One Pot Christmas Salad is a quick and easy festive recipe featuring a vibrant mix of fresh spinach, sweetened dried cranberries, and crunchy pecans tossed in a homemade honey poppyseed dressing. Prepared in just 20 minutes using simple ingredients, it makes a perfect light and refreshing holiday side dish or appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp onion (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp dried mustard powder (or Dijon mustard)
- 2 tsp poppy seeds (adjust according to your preference)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Salad
- 1 bag spinach (16 oz. bag)
- 3/4 cup pecans (roughly chopped)
- 3/4 cup cranberries (dried, sweetened)
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a large salad bowl, combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, finely chopped onion, dried mustard powder, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously for at least 1 minute until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and fragrant.
- Add spinach: Add the entire bag of fresh spinach to the bowl and toss gently but thoroughly to coat the leaves evenly with the dressing.
- Top with nuts and fruit: Sprinkle the roughly chopped pecans and sweetened dried cranberries over the dressed spinach.
- Serve immediately: Give the salad a final gentle toss if desired and serve immediately to enjoy the fresh textures and flavors.
Notes
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the spinach and crunch of the pecans.
- Adjust the amount of poppy seeds according to your taste preference for added texture and flavor.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
- To make it gluten free, ensure all ingredients like mustard powder are certified gluten free.
- You can toast the pecans lightly for extra flavor if desired, but it’s optional.
- This salad pairs well with holiday main courses or can be enjoyed as a light appetizer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 118 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
