Seasonal Cranberry Walnut Salad (Printer-friendly)

Fresh greens mixed with cranberries, walnuts, apple, and a bright orange vinaigrette for a festive touch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, romaine)
02 - 1 cup fresh or dried cranberries
03 - 1 cup toasted walnut halves
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1 large apple, cored and thinly sliced
06 - 3.5 oz crumbled goat cheese or feta

→ Orange Vinaigrette

07 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
08 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
11 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Combine mixed greens, cranberries, toasted walnuts, red onion, and apple slices in a large salad bowl.
02 - Whisk together orange juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey until blended. Slowly pour in olive oil while whisking to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper.
03 - Pour vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to mix evenly.
04 - Sprinkle crumbled goat cheese or feta on top and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks stunning on the table without any fancy plating skills required.
  • The sweet, tart, and creamy flavors hit all the right notes in one bite.
  • You can assemble everything in under twenty minutes, even if company is already on the way.
02 -
  • Dress the salad only right before serving or the greens will wilt and lose their crispness within minutes.
  • If your vinaigrette splits and looks oily, add half a teaspoon of mustard and whisk hard until it comes back together.
03 -
  • Use your hands to toss the salad gently so the delicate greens do not bruise or tear.
  • Taste a bite of the dressed salad before serving and adjust with more salt, pepper, or a squeeze of orange if needed.
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