Winter Salad Recipe

Who says salads are for summer? This Winter Salad is just as cozy as your favorite soup, and it shines especially bright in the winter!

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Winter is a time to indulge in warm, cozy, comfort foods. It’s a time to throw the term “guilty pleasures” to the wind, and enjoy holiday treats and heavy dishes guilt-free. Heck, I have a whole series going on soup season and the wonderfully warm bowls you can enjoy this time of year! But as much as I love getting to put on a few extra pounds to stay warm and nourished through the winter, I still love me some healthy eating. And nothing makes me feel healthier than a crispy, crunchy, leafy salad.

So, why can’t we have both? In lieu of another soup recipe, today I’d rather give you one of my favorite winter salad recipes. This salad was actually inspired by a favorite cold weather activity: day trips with my best friend to the quiet town of Fallbrook, California. Fallbrook makes for an ultimate autumn or winter getaway, because it’s small and quaint, offers a picturesque downtown full of local shops and restaurants, and is surrounded with wine vineyards and canyons. Though it’s just as sunny as any other part of southern California this time of year, it has a seasonal ambience sort of like Stars Hollow. (Shout out to all my fellow Gilmore Girls fans.)

One of the staples of downtown Fallbrook is Village Roots, a hip restaurant that offers a signature salad with pomegranate seeds, feta cheese, and a sweet house-made vinaigrette. Every time my bestie and I visit Fallbrook, we make a point to stop for lunch at Village Roots. Unfortunately, Fallbrook is quite the road trip, so we’ve learned to make our own version of their house salad ourselves, with our own modifications.

This winter salad is made with nutritious greens, seasonal fruits like pomegranate and apples, and decadent ingredients like toasted pecans and goat cheese. It perfectly balances the refreshing taste of any good salad with the richness of wintery treats to give you all the winter vibes.

Is Winter Salad Healthy?

Like any salad done right, this winter salad is a healthy choice for a light lunch, an afternoon snack, or a first course at dinner. The goat cheese and pecans give it some protein, and the veggies offer a decent dose of fiber. It’s made with kale, spinach, and arugula—all the best greens to keep your body nourished through the cold months—and antioxidant-rich fruits to keep your immunity up all season. This recipe is vegetarian, and you can even make it vegan by ditching the goat cheese or substituting your favorite vegan cheese alternative.

Warm Up Your Winter Salad

If you want my secret hack to making this winter salad the best it can be, it’s to turn it into a warm bowl. Serve your salad over a bed of warm grains, like quinoa, wild rice, or Couscous. Then, add Roasted Sweet Potatoes, flaky Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and any other cozy ingredients you might like. Now, your winter salad will keep you warm on even the coldest days!

INGREDIENTS

5 ounces mixed greens (kale, spinach, arugula)
1 medium apple, cored and diced
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
1/2 cup pomegranate arils
1/3 cup toasted pecans
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine

Mix greens, apple, and pomegranate in a bowl.

Dress

Shake together dressing ingredients and pour over salad.

Serve

Top with goat cheese and pecans.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How To Make Ahead And Store

You can store your mix of greens, your individual ingredients, and your vinaigrette separately in containers in the fridge, and assemble your salad when you’re ready to eat it. The salad won’t hold well after it’s dressed, so keep everything separated until it’s time to serve.

What’s The Difference Between Kale And Spinach?

Both kale and spinach are leafy, hearty greens that you should absolutely be eating regularly! They’re superfoods in their own right, and they have long lists of health benefits. Kale has a distinctly heavy, earthy flavor, while spinach is a bit lighter with a leafy flavor. Mixed together with the rest of the ingredients in this salad, they make for a delicious salad base.

How To Add More Protein

If you want a little more of a meal in your winter salad, you can add grilled salmon or chicken to the mix. Adding a protein will up the level of nutrients you get from your meal. If you don’t eat meat, you can try adding tofu, lentils, or quinoa to your winter salad for additional protein.

Serving Suggestions

This winter salad is delicious on its own, but it also pairs well with so many other FFF favorites! Pair it with soups like Broccoli Cauliflower Soup, Spinach Tortellini Soup, or Sweet Potato Curry Soup, to name a few. You can also pair this winter salad with sandwiches, like this Blackberry Vegan Chickpea Salad Sandwich with Basil.

This salad goes great with dinner, too. Impress your dinner guests by serving this winter salad with unique comfort dishes like Stuffed Eggplant, Honeynut Squash, or Smoked Pork Chops.