Description
A vibrant and festive Christmas Salad featuring finely shredded Brussels sprouts and kale, sweet pomegranate arils, toasted almonds, and savory bacon, all dressed in a zesty citrus vinaigrette. This fresh and colorful salad offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors, perfect for holiday gatherings or a healthy everyday meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad
- 3 Cups Brussels sprouts, finely shredded
- 3 Cups Kale, finely shredded
- 1 ½ Cup Pomegranate Arils
- ½ Cup Chopped Almonds, toasted
- 3 Slices Cooked Bacon, crumbled (omit for vegetarian)
- ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
For the Dressing
- 1 Orange, zested and juiced
- 1 Lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Honey
- 1 Clove Garlic, smashed
- Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
- ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Mix: In a large bowl, combine the finely shredded Brussels sprouts, kale, pomegranate arils, toasted chopped almonds, crumbled cooked bacon, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss the ingredients thoroughly to blend the flavors and textures evenly throughout the salad mix.
- Make the Dressing: Using a mini food processor or blender, add the orange zest and juice, lemon zest and juice, Dijon mustard, honey, smashed garlic clove, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Pulse the mixture until everything is combined.
- Emulsify the Dressing: With the machine running, slowly pour in the extra virgin olive oil in a steady stream to emulsify the dressing, creating a smooth and well-blended vinaigrette.
- Toss the Salad with Dressing: Pour the vinaigrette over the salad mixture and toss well to coat all the ingredients evenly. Adjust seasoning if needed and add more Parmesan cheese on top if desired before serving.
Notes
- Omit bacon and Parmesan cheese to make this salad vegetarian.
- Toast almonds lightly in a dry skillet for a richer flavor.
- Use fresh pomegranate arils for the best sweetness and texture; frozen can be used if fresh aren’t available.
- This salad can be prepared in advance, but add dressing just before serving to maintain freshness and crunch.
- If you prefer a sweeter dressing, add an additional teaspoon of honey.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (to toast almonds and cook bacon if needed)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas salad, Brussels sprouts salad, kale salad, holiday salad, pomegranate salad, healthy salad
