Description
A festive Christmas side dish salad featuring crisp Romaine lettuce, peppery rocket, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy candied almonds, tangy blue cheese, and fresh apple cubes, all tossed in a honey-Dijon vinaigrette for a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 8 large lettuce leaves (Romaine)
- 30 g baby rocket
- 60 g dried cranberries
- 60 g candied almonds
- 30 g blue cheese
- 1 apple, cut into cubes
Dressing
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 50 ml olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Gradually drizzle in the olive oil while continuously whisking to emulsify the dressing, creating a smooth and tangy vinaigrette.
- Reserve ingredients: Set aside a small portion of the salad ingredients that are not leaves, such as some dried cranberries, candied almonds, apple cubes, or blue cheese, for garnish at the end.
- Mix the salad: In a large bowl, combine the Romaine lettuce leaves and baby rocket with the remaining dried cranberries, candied almonds, blue cheese, and apple cubes. Add half of the prepared dressing and gently toss to coat the salad evenly.
- Assemble the salad: Transfer the mixed salad onto serving plates or a large platter. Top with the reserved salad ingredients to add visual appeal and texture. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the top to finish.
Notes
- Use crisp Romaine lettuce for a sturdy base that holds the dressing well.
- For a nut-free option, substitute candied almonds with toasted pumpkin seeds or omit entirely.
- Blue cheese can be replaced with feta or goat cheese for a milder flavor.
- Adjust the sweetness of the dressing by varying the amount of honey to taste.
- Serve immediately to maintain the freshness and crunch of the salad ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
