Hearty salads make awesome side dishes as well as light lunches or dinners in the summer! Our Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Poppy Seed Dressing is creamy, crunchy, sweet and tart, and our Strawberry Spinach Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing is one that even my kids request for dinner, along with some Grilled Chicken! Fact: If I’m going to eat a salad, it cannot be boring. It’s just not allowed. They must be full of fun ingredients and flavors for me to make it or want to eat it. A plate of wilted lettuce with a few cherry tomatoes tossed on top? Thank you, next. You know what I mean? This Orange Pomegranate Salad recipe is anything but boring. Fresh, crispy romaine lettuce is the perfect bed for zippy oranges, sweet and tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy candied almonds and tangy feta. It all gets tossed with this amazing homemade orange vinaigrette, which is rich, a little spicy with mustard, and somehow creamy as well. Although salads are typically eaten in the summer (and this salad is GREAT with all-things-grilled), this orange and pomegranate salad recipe is perfect year-round, especially for fall as that’s when pomegranates and oranges are in season. Between the mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and dinner rolls, adding this pop of color to your Thanksgiving spread will give your table a “wow” factor, and who can resist these refreshing flavors between all of that comfort food?
Ingredients for Orange Pomegranate Salad
Salad
Romaine lettuce: Fresh and crunchy romaine lettuce is the perfect leafy green for this salad! Other lettuces like leaf lettuce or butterhead would work as well.Oranges: The star of the dish, oranges are sliced with the pith removed to avoid any bitter flavor.Pomegranate: Pomegranate seeds add a burst of sweet crunchiness. You can buy whole pomegranates and segment them yourself, or pick up the containers where the work is done for you.Feta cheese: Creamy and tangy, feta is so good in this Orange Pomegranate Salad recipe!Candied Almonds: I make my own candied almonds but you can use store-bought if preferred.
Orange Vinaigrette
Olive oil: Vinaigrettes are usually made with a mixture of olive oil and vinegar. If you’re not a fan of the flavor of extra virgin olive oil, feel free to use light!Apple cider vinegar: I chose this vinegar as it adds a little flavor along with the tartness. The acidity in ACV isn’t as hard as other vinegars.Orange juice & zest: Freshly squeezed orange juice brings in plenty of orange flavor which is then amped up with orange zest.Honey: Although the orange juice is sweet, this orange vinaigrette needed just a little more sweetness. Honey is the perfect choice as it goes with all of these ingredients so well.Dijon mustard: Adds another layer of flavor, as well as a little heat.Salt and pepper: Just to balance everything out.
How to Make Orange Vinaigrette
This stuff is so delicious you could practically drink it. Homemade salad dressings really make a giant difference in upping your salad game.
How to make Orange Pomegranate Salad
How do you peel a pomegranate?
It’s easier than you think! One method I use is to cut the pomegranate in half, and tap (or whack!) the pomegranate peel until the seeds fall out. It’s also easy to deseed them in water. Slice the pomegranate in half and pour water into a medium-large bowl. Hold the pomegranate in the water and gently remove the seeds. This method will also help to keep your hands from staining!
What can I serve this Orange Pomegranate Salad with?
This is a great side salad for summer grilling! Here are a few of my go-to grill recipes:
Burgers 101: How to Grill BurgersGrilled Ribeye SteakJuicy Grilled Turkey BurgersGrilled Cilantro Lime Chicken ThighsPerfect Grilled Pork Chops with Sweet BBQ Pork RubGrilled Whole Fish
Is Orange and Pomegranate Salad seasonal?
Oranges and pomegranates are technically fall and winter fruits, making this Orange and Pomegranate Salad recipe perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas, however, we like it year-round, especially in the summer when you want a nice, light meal to make you feel cool and refreshed.
More Salad Side Dish Recipes Like This
Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & PistachiosZucchini SaladGreek Pasta SaladClassic Potluck Broccoli SaladPeach Panzanella SaladCreamy Grape SaladGrilled Cactus and Corn Salad
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