This Zesty Salad is the Festive Side Dish You've Been Looking For

If you're reading this, it means the word salad didn't scare you away and that's good! Because this is NOT an ordinary salad. It is full of flavor and interesting ingredients that are also healthy for you and your family. I don't know about you all, but this time of year is so busy that we "grab and go" way too much. This leaves me craving greens, veggies, and fruit.

A Healthy & Delicious Holiday Side Dish

Holiday side favorites like stuffing, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese, are the stars of the show. However, this Christmas salad is so bright and refreshing that it goes perfectly with your traditional Christmas dinner, or even to accompany a breakfast casserole on Christmas morning. Plus it is super fast and easy you won't miss out on any excitement of opening presents.

MKAT

My friend Merritt from The Kitchen Transition (nudge, nudge, give her a follow at that link for more delicious recipes) joined me on The Morning Show today for a taste test, and it has my full stamp of approval! Here is the simple, but oh-so-delicious recipe:

Get our free mobile app

Merritt's Christmas Salad

Ingredients for the Dressing:

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons honey

1 lime, juice freshly squeezed 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Merritt Bates Thomas

Ingredients for the Salad

6 oz baby spinach

1/2 cup pecan halves toasted, some of them chopped finely

1/2 cup dried cranberries

3 mandarin oranges peeled and segmented or 1 can mandarin oranges, drained

1/3 cup goat cheese crumbled

1/3 cup pomegranate arils or more (optional)

1/4 cup red onion slices (optional)

Combine all salad dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Whisk well with a fork, until emulsified. Add more lime juice to taste, if desired.

In a serving bowl, add spinach. Top with the remaining salad ingredients.

Drizzle with the salad dressing.

You can also combine all the salad ingredients (except pecans and pomegranate arils) in a large serving bowl, add the dressing, and toss to combine. Then, top the salad with toasted pecan halves (some of them chopped) and pomegranate arils.

If you're serving this salad to accompany Christmas brunch, roasted bacon bits would be a really delicious salty touch to the salad as well.