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Christmas Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This holiday salad is a festive mix of flavors and textures, featuring a tangy pomegranate vinaigrette, roasted mushrooms, and a variety of fresh greens, making it an impressive addition to any holiday table.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the pomegranate vinaigrette
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate juice
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or grapeseed oil can also use grapeseed oil
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Kosher salt to taste Kosher salt, as needed
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
For the candied walnuts
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 lb halved walnuts about 2 cups
For the salad
  • 1/2 lb cremini mushrooms stemmed and thinly sliced
  • 4 large portobello mushrooms stemmed
  • 4 small red beets peeled and quartered
  • 4 small golden beets peeled and quartered
  • 1 head radicchio cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 head frisée cored and torn apart
  • 2-3 large handfuls arugula
  • 1 watermelon radish peeled and thinly sliced on a mandoline
  • 1 wedge blue cheese crumbled
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste Freshly cracked black pepper, as needed

Method
 

Making the Pomegranate Vinaigrette
  1. Whisk the pomegranate juice, white wine vinegar, and honey together until smooth. Slowly whisk in the vegetable or grapeseed oil and olive oil until the dressing is blended and glossy. Add kosher salt to taste, then stir in the pomegranate seeds. Set the vinaigrette aside or chill it until ready to serve.
Preparing the Candied Walnuts
  1. Line a sheet pan with foil and lightly grease it with oil. Set a large sauté pan over high heat and bring the brown sugar, water, salt, and cayenne to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and let it simmer for about 1 minute until slightly reduced. Add the walnuts and stir until they are coated and the liquid thickens around them.
  2. Spread the walnuts in a single layer on the greased foil, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, stir gently after 5 minutes, and let them cool completely.
Roasting the Mushrooms and Beets
  1. Heat the oven to 425°F. Toss the cremini mushrooms and beets separately with a light drizzle of olive oil. Spread the cremini on a foil-lined sheet pan, salt lightly, and roast for 8 minutes, then move them to a paper towel-lined plate.
  2. Spread the portobellos and beets on another foil-lined pan, salt lightly, and roast for 15 minutes. Move the portobellos to a paper towel-lined plate, then roast the beets for 10 minutes more. Let the roasted vegetables cool.
Assembling the Salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine the radicchio, frisée, arugula, and watermelon radish. Add the cooled roasted vegetables and toss with the vinaigrette.
  2. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, then transfer the salad to a serving bowl or platter.
Finishing and Serving
  1. Top the salad with the candied walnuts and blue cheese. Serve right away to keep the greens crisp and the flavors bright. Ensure the greens are very dry before serving to prevent sogginess.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. For best texture, store dressing, greens, roasted vegetables, and toppings separately. Candied walnuts can be frozen for up to 2 months and roasted vegetables for 1 month. Do not reheat the greens or assembled salad.