Seasonal Cranberry Walnut Salad (Printable)

A colorful blend of fresh greens, cranberries, walnuts, and citrus dressing for festive occasions.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - In a large salad bowl, mix the greens, cranberries, toasted walnuts, red onion, and apple slices.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together orange juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey until smooth. Gradually whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
03 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle crumbled goat cheese or feta on top and serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in minutes but looks like you spent an hour arranging it.
  • The cranberries and orange vinaigrette wake up your taste buds in the best way.
  • It's hearty enough to stand alone but works beautifully alongside roasted meats.
  • You can swap ingredients based on what's in your pantry and it still shines.
02 -
  • Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, shaking the pan often, or they'll burn in a heartbeat.
  • Don't dress the salad until the moment you're ready to serve, or the greens will wilt and lose their snap.
  • If using dried cranberries, look for ones without added sulfites or excess sugar for a cleaner taste.
03 -
  • Massage the greens gently with a tiny pinch of salt before adding the other ingredients; it tenderizes them and makes every bite more flavorful.
  • Use a jar with a tight lid to shake the vinaigrette instead of whisking, and you'll get a perfect emulsion every time with way less effort.
  • If your crowd is big, double the dressing recipe because people always want extra on the side.
Go Back