Food 16 Holiday Salads to Brighten Your Spread Celebrate winter greens with pops of color from raspberry, pomegranate, and more seasonal ingredients. By Food & Wine Editors Food & Wine Editors This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors. Many of our galleries curate recipes or guides from a variety of sources which we credit throughout the content and at each link. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on December 20, 2023 Close Photo: Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Balance rich and sweet holiday dishes with any of these fresh holiday salad recipes to round out the spread at your next gathering. Winter produce shines in these recipes for hearty main course and side salads, whether they are destined for a buffet, dinner table, or a quiet, restoring meal. Beets, pomegranate, and raspberries add holiday hues while steak, salmon, and seasonal crab provide hearty protein. These bright crowd pleasers will tempt even the pickiest eaters and salad skeptics. 01 of 16 Poached Salt Cod Salad with Sweet Peppers Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Pieces of slightly sweet, pleasantly chewy poached salt cod feature in this hearty holiday salad of sweet peppers, purslane, herbs, and cherry tomatoes. Get the Recipe 02 of 16 Persimmons, Pomegranate, and Purslane with Pepitas Victor Protasio Suzanne Goin, chef and owner at the famed Lucques in Los Angeles, refers to this holiday salad as “The 4 Ps,” and says she thinks of it as a persimmon salad with an arugula garnish, rather than the other way around. Get the Recipe 03 of 16 Dungeness Crab Winter Salad Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely A flavorful and gorgeous special occasion dish that’s as tasty as it is eye-catching, this holiday salad with crisp greens, winter fruits, sweet crabmeat, and crunchy croutons is a showstopper. Get the Recipe 04 of 16 Chicory Salad with Cranberry Sauce Vinaigrette Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Repurpose or return to Thanksgiving ingredients to combine torn mixed chicories with cornbread that has been crumbled and crisped in bacon drippings, and a tart dressing spiked with cranberry sauce. This vibrant holiday salad is refreshing and balanced. Get the Recipe 05 of 16 Citrus, Beet, and Arugula Salad with Halloumi Croutons Photo by Dan Perez / Food Styling and Prop Styling by Nurit Kariv Resplendent with mixed citrus and jewel-toned roasted beets, this peppery arugula salad gets elevated to holiday status courtesy of crispy halloumi croutons. Get the Recipe 06 of 16 Neoclassic Seafood Salad Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Alfred Portale's famous stacked salad from Gotham Bar and Grill calls for high-quality ingredients, skilled execution, and an elaborate presentation. Get the Recipe 07 of 16 "Caesared" Salmon Salad Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Caesar flavors get dressed up with succulent, smoky grilled salmon for special occasions. Get the Recipe 08 of 16 Fennel and Apple Salad with Hazelnuts Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Fragrant fennel, sweet-tart Granny Smith apple, and toasty hazelnuts are tucked in among the tender lettuce leaves to add a refreshing crunch to this holiday salad. Get the Recipe 09 of 16 Roasted Hot Honey Sweet Potato Salad Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood For this colorful, satisfying side dish, smoked paprika creates a sweet and savory balance while hot honey dressing adds a touch of tangy heat. Homemade pickled red onions, crunchy toasted pecans, and fresh parsley round out the dish. Get the Recipe 10 of 16 Charred Focaccia and Steak Salad Eric Wolfinger Make a statement showcasing bold ingredients like strip steak and Calabrian chile in a satisfying salad with focaccia croutons. Get the Recipe 11 of 16 Roasted Beet Salad with Horseradish-Cashew Cream Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Using a variety of beets, such as red, golden, or Chioggia (sometimes called candystripe), adds stunning color to this vibrant beet salad recipe from London chef Carine Ottou. Get the Recipe 12 of 16 Apple and Celery Salad With Sunflower Seed and Chile Vinaigrette Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis This apple and celery salad is spicy, sweet, fresh, and delicious. Nutty sunflower seed kernels round out each zippy bite while celery lends a refreshing crunch. It’s all tossed with a piquant vinaigrette that includes jarred Calabrian chiles, tangy sherry vinegar, and tender mixed herbs. Get the Recipe 13 of 16 Wedge Salad with Tahini Green Goddess Dressing Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Shell Royster Cut two iceberg lettuce heads into six wedges for a family-style spread and drizzle with Justin Chapple's satisfying tahini green goddess dressing for an irresistible presentation and a salad with crunch. Get the Recipe 14 of 16 Kale Salad with Cranberries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese Maxwell Cozzi This wintry kale salad dresses up the hearty greens with toasted almonds, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and a citrus-Dijon vinaigrette. Get the Recipe 15 of 16 Christmas Salad © Eva Kolenko Natasha Phan of L.A.’s Kogi restaurant empire craves this crisp, fresh salad during the holidays, when there’s always an abundance of rich dishes at the table. It combines arugula, Belgian endives, fennel, and watercress with pomegranate seeds and scallions, plus crispy fried wontons. Get the Recipe 16 of 16 Cauliflower Salad with Yogurt Sauce and Pomegranate Greg DuPree Reem Kassis tops fried cauliflower with toasted nuts, pomegranate arils, and lemon-and-garlic-laced yogurt. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit