Description

This Festive Orange & Cranberry Salad is a vibrant and refreshing holiday dish that combines fresh spinach, tart cranberries, juicy orange segments, crunchy walnuts, and tangy feta cheese. Tossed with a simple olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing, it makes a perfect light and colorful side for any festive meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

2 cups fresh spinach
1 cup cranberries
1 orange, segmented
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare the spinach: Wash the fresh spinach thoroughly under cold water and place it in a large mixing bowl to create the base of the salad.
Add fruit: Add 1 cup of cranberries and the orange segments to the bowl, spreading them evenly over the spinach for color and flavor contrast.
Add nuts and cheese: Sprinkle the chopped walnuts and crumbled feta cheese on top of the fruit and spinach, giving the salad texture and savory notes.
Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined to create a simple yet flavorful dressing.
Toss the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss everything together to evenly coat all components with the dressing.
Serve: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy its fresh flavors and crisp textures at their best.

Notes

For a sweeter touch, substitute dried cranberries for fresh if preferred.
Walnuts can be lightly toasted to enhance their flavor before adding.
Feel free to add a handful of sliced red onions or fresh herbs like mint for extra zest.
This salad should be served fresh; avoid dressing it too far in advance to prevent wilting.
Can be easily doubled or halved depending on serving needs.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Orange salad, Cranberry salad, Holiday salad, Spinach salad, Festive salad, Vegetarian salad, Healthy salad