Ready to brighten up your table with a fresh, vibrant, and downright delicious salad? This Orange Pomegranate Salad is a colorful mix of crisp greens, juicy oranges, crunchy pomegranate seeds, creamy avocado, and tangy goat cheese. It is topped with a sweet-tangy orange vinaigrette for the perfect weekday lunch or to add a pop of color to holiday meals.
Yummy salads to enjoy in fall and winter
Salads are often associated with warmer weather but they can be equally delicious during the colder months. Think seasonal produce that are at their peak during fall and winter like oranges, apples, pears, and cranberries. They all add a burst of flavor and color to your salads that fit the season perfectly.
Great salads like my Fall Apple Salad, Harvest Chicken Salad, and Pear Walnut Gorgonzola Salad are all flavorful, beautiful salads that will fit any occasion.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Here’s why this Orange Pomegranate Salad is going to be a new favorite:
It’s Bursting with Fresh Flavor: Between the citrusy sweetness of the oranges and the bright, tart flavor of pomegranate seeds, every bite of this salad is packed with vibrant, refreshing flavors.
Easy to Customize: Don’t have goat cheese? Try feta! Out of almonds? Swap in walnuts or pecans! This salad is super adaptable to what you have on hand or your personal taste.
Quick & Easy Recipe: This pomegranate orange salad comes together in no time with pre-packaged grocery store items! The hardest part is peeling the oranges!
A Crowd-Pleaser at Any Table: It’s pretty enough for a holiday spread, yet simple and fresh enough for a quick lunch or as a side dish for dinner. Guests are sure to love the combination of colors, textures, and flavors.
Perfectly Balanced Dressing: The orange vinaigrette is lightly sweetened with honey and just the right touch of zest. It adds a tangy finish that complements the ingredients without overpowering them.
Ingredients you'll need
This pomegranate salad recipe and accompanying orange vinaigrette have just a handful of ingredients that offer up a mix of vibrant flavors and textures. Check the recipe card below for the exact quantities.
Mixed Greens: A pre-washed blend of greens is perfect for convenience and adds a mild, crisp base to the salad.
Navel Oranges: Sweet and juicy, these fresh oranges are easy to peel and add a bright citrusy note to every bite. You can sub in blood oranges when they are in season for an even more stunning-looking salad.
Pomegranate Seeds: Sometimes known as pomegranate arils are tart and crunchy, giving the salad a pop of color and refreshing taste.
Avocado: Creamy avocado brings a mild, buttery texture that balances out the crispness of the greens and the crunch of the nuts.
Goat Cheese: Its creamy, tangy flavor pairs perfectly with the sweet citrus.
Sliced Almonds: These add a nice crunchy texture and nutty flavor to the salad.
Orange Vinaigrette: Made with fresh orange juice and orange zest, a little honey for sweetening, extra virgin olive oil, and rice wine vinegar (or sub in white wine vinegar). Salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper are added for a bit of tangy to go with the sweet.
How to make salad with oranges and pomegranate
- Place fresh, washed mixed greens in a large salad bowl. Add the orange segments, making sure to remove as much of the white pith as you can, pomegranate seeds, cubed avocado, crumbled goat cheese, and sliced almonds on top.
- Toss well.
- Mix all the orange vinagrette dressing ingredients together and drizzle over this festive pomegranate salad.
Just look at all those crisp, bright reds and greens mixed together! That makes this the perfect salad to serve for the Christmas holidays. And with oranges in season, it makes the ideal healthy winter salad to help you through the cold months ahead. Enjoy!
Recipe variations to make it your own
Salad Greens: If mixed greens aren’t your favorite, swap them for arugula for a peppery kick, baby kale for a hearty texture, or spinach for a slightly sweeter green.
Cheese Substitutes: Goat cheese adds a great tang, but you can switch it up with feta cheese for a saltier taste or blue cheese for something bolder.
Nuts: Crunchy almonds are perfect here, but pecans, pistachios, or walnuts work wonderfully if you want to try something different or use what you have on hand.
What to Serve With the Salad
This Orange Pomegranate Salad is great as a light meal or a festive starter. If you’re making it part of a larger meal, here are some pairing ideas:
Main Dishes: This salad goes well with grilled salmon, roasted chicken, or even a nice seared steak. The salad’s bright, citrusy flavors balance beautifully with savory proteins.
Soups: Pair it with a cozy soup like butternut squash, tomato basil, or vegetable soup for a complete meal that’s hearty and fresh.
Bread: Serve alongside a crusty baguette, warm dinner rolls, or some garlic bread for a satisfying, well-rounded meal.
More fruity salad recipes
- Ambrosia Salad with Yogurt
- Pear and Rocket Salad
- Strawberry Chicken Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Waldorf Salad
Find even more easy salad recipes right here on 2CM!
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Orange Pomegranate Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 7 cups fresh pre-washed mixed greens
- 3 navel oranges, peeled, divided into sections & halved
- ¾ cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 avocado, cubed
- ½ cup crumbled goat cheese
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
Dressing
- ¼ cup orange juice or about the juice of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey (can add more if you like a sweeter dressing)
- ⅛-1/4 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup extra light virgin olive oil
- Pinch ground pepper
- Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Place greens in a large salad bowl. Top with remaining salad ingredients.
- Prepare dressing by vigorously whisking all ingredients together.
- Pour over salad, toss gently and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and more helpful information. It was first published on January 4, 2017.
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