Description

This vibrant winter pomegranate salad is bursting with seasonal flavors! Loaded with baby arugula, juicy mandarin slices, crisp apples, creamy feta, and crunchy pecans, it’s finished with a zesty ginger dressing for the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Winter Pomegranate Salad with Mandarin, Feta, and Apple

SEO Optimized Description:
This vibrant winter pomegranate salad is bursting with seasonal flavors! Loaded with baby arugula, juicy mandarin slices, crisp apples, creamy feta, and crunchy pecans, it’s finished with a zesty ginger dressing for the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory.

Ingredients:

For the Salad:

1/2 cup raw pecans (halves or pieces)
5 ounces baby arugula
2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) feta, crumbled
1 Honeycrisp or Gala apple, thinly sliced
2 mandarins, peeled and segmented
Arils from 1 pomegranate

For the Ginger Dressing:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, to taste
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
About 10 twists of freshly ground black pepper

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Toast the Pecans:
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and toast, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Prepare the Dressing:
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup (or honey), grated ginger, sea salt, and black pepper until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large salad bowl, combine the arugula, sliced apple, mandarin segments, and pomegranate arils. Add the crumbled feta and toasted pecans.
Dress and Serve:
- Drizzle the ginger dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat the ingredients evenly. Serve immediately and enjoy this colorful, refreshing winter salad!

Notes

For added crunch, substitute pecans with candied pecans or walnuts.
Swap mandarins for blood oranges if desired for a more dramatic color contrast.
This salad pairs beautifully with roasted chicken or salmon for a complete meal.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes (for pecans)
Category: Salad, Side Dish
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American