Christmas Wreath Salad is crisp, colorful, and holiday-party ready. The idea is to build a salad like a wreath with simple greens and "ornaments" like pomegranate, tomatoes, oranges, nuts, or whatever you've got rolling around your fridge. Ready in about 20 minutes.
If you want a great salad for your holiday get-together or you're in charge of "bringing a salad" and you want a great presentation, this Christmas Wreath Salad is a great option.
With greens, fruit, something savory, and something roasty if you want (hello Roasted Chickpea Croutons), it's festive without being fussy, and you just might be able to build it with whatever you already have in the fridge.
And if you're doing a whole holiday spread, this salad plays very nicely next to bold, flavorful sides like Vegan Scalloped Potatoes, Vegan Two-Potato Anna, or Vegan Corn Casserole, for contrast.
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Why I Love This Recipe
- A wreath-shaped salad is an instant holiday vibe with the same effort of a regular salad in a bowl.
- Fresh, crunchy, and a nice break from the beige parade of stuffing.
- Easy to customize with whatever you've got (fruit, nuts, seeds, chickpeas, pasta bows, etc.)
- It's make-ahead friendly. Prep everything early and assemble fast.
- You can have several smaller "wreaths" with different ingredients, so people can choose the salad and dressing of their choice.
Ingredients
Here is a picture with a few examples of what you can include in your Christmas wreath salad. Below is a list of other options ("ornaments") you can use to make your wreath festive.
What greens should I use in a Christmas wreath salad?
I usually use mixed greens, but if you want a sturdier, more "wreath-like" salad, try mixing in curly kale (massaged to soften it) and/or romaine.
What are the best RED ingredients for a Christmas salad?
Pomegranate seeds, raspberries, halved strawberries, red grapes, beets, cherry tomatoes, and dried cranberries are my go-to. If you want to learn how to remove the pomegranate seeds from the fruit easily, see this 45-second tutorial.
What are the best CRUNCHY ingredients for a Christmas salad?
Add thin radish coins, cucumbers (use a cookie-cutter for fun shapes), diagonally sliced snap peas, toasted chickpeas, and roasted sweet potato cubes for gold-ornament sparkle.
What are some JUICY/BRIGHT ingredients?
Toss in halved fresh cranberries for tiny ruby dots, halved red grapes, pomegranate arils, mandarin segments, and persimmon slices. I also like to use sliced mini sweet peppers in different colors.
What are some CHEWY ingredients for this salad?
Add dried cherries, classic dried cranberries, and chopped dried apricots.
What are the best WHITE ingredients/ornaments?
Vegan feta, small cauliflower florets, sliced hearts of palm, white beans/chickpeas, shaved fennel, or a sprinkle of coconut flakes (if your dressing is citrusy).
What are the best GREEN ornaments?
Avocado cubes, edamame, small broccoli florets, shaved Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, or thin-sliced celery all work.
What are the best "RIBBON/GARLAND" ingredients?
Carrot ribbons, red onion strips, cucumber ribbons, zucchini ribbons, spiralized beets, or chopped scallions sprinkled like confetti.
What are some EXTRA ingredients to add to the Christmas salad?
Add Candied Cinnamon Pecans, pistachios, pepitas, olives (Kalamata or green), and vegan feta mixed with pomegranate seeds to make fun red-and-white clusters around the wreath.
Some Ideas/Variations
- Classic Ruby Wreath: Mixed greens tossed with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red grapes, then topped with pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries, candied cinnamon pecans, and vegan feta.
- Citrus Sparkle Wreath: Greens tossed with mandarin segments, cucumber stars, and mini sweet peppers, then finished with pistachios, pepitas, and bright pops of fresh cranberries or pomegranate.
- Mezze Holiday Wreath: Mixed greens tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, then topped with marinated artichoke hearts, Kalamata or green olives, pickled red onions, and vegan feta.
- Dressings: I like a simple balsamic vinaigrette with mixed greens, but feel free to choose your favorite from all my dressings.
How To Make a Christmas Wreath Salad
Step 1: Start with greens. Wash the greens. If using kale, massage it with a tiny drizzle of olive oil + pinch of salt.
Step 2: Toss the base salad with a handful of the mix-ins so every bite gets the goods.
Step 3: Shape the wreath. Use your hands to form a big ring, leaving an empty hole in the middle (Tip: a bowl in the center helps as a mold).
Step 4: Decorate the wreath by sprinkling the remaining colorful toppings for a festive, "ornament" look. Then add dressing right before serving or place it in the center of the wreath for people to add as they serve themselves.
Top Tips
- Dry your greens thoroughly to keep them fresh. You can use a salad spinner.
- Use 2-3 textures in the salad: For example, crunchy (nuts/seeds/croutons), juicy (fruit/tomatoes), and chewy.
- Toss the apples with a squeeze of citrus to prevent browning.
- Serve on a big circular platter with slightly raised sides (if possible), like these serving dishes.
- Use serving tongs instead of individual salad servers for the best utility.
- For more ideas on colored veggies and fruits you can use, take a look at Top 11 Red Vegetables, Top 10 Orange Vegetables, 17 Exotic Fruits with Pictures, and 9 White Fruits and Vegetables (With Pictures).
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a holiday soup like Butternut Squash Carrot Soup.
- Alongside a holiday main (vegan roast, stuffed squash, shepherd's pie).
- If you're skipping the Thanksgiving remix this year, serve this salad alongside Best Vegan Lasagna or Easy Vegan Stuffed Shells for an easy, festive Christmas dinner combo.
- Use as a starter with garlic bread or a snack board situation.
Christmas Wreath Salad FAQS
Yes. Prep everything ahead (wash/dry greens, slice toppings, make dressing), but assemble right before serving.
That will depend on the size of your circular platter.
Looking For More Salads?
As unofficial recipe testers, I love hearing how Christmas wreath salad turns out. Leave a comment and rating to share your results - whether it was love at first bite, surprisingly edible, or a full-blown yuck. Your feedback helps me fine-tune my instructions so each recipe works just as well for you as it does in my kitchen.
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Christmas Wreath Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
Wreath base (How much you need will depend on the size of your serving dish)
- 11 ounces greens mixed greens, kale, and/or arugula work well
Ornaments (pick 4-8, mix and match) See post for more ideas
Red Ornaments/Ingredients
- pomegranate arils
- dried cranberries
- cherry tomatoes halved
- red grapes halved
- strawberries sliced
- red onion very thinly sliced
- radishes thin slices
- apples sliced or cubed
Green Ornaments/Ingredients
- cucumber ribbons or slices
- avocado cubed
- thin zucchini ribbons
White Ornaments/Ingredients
- vegan feta
- bow-tie pasta just a few for decoration adds alot
- croutons small ones look extra "wreath-y"
- white beans
- vegan mozzarella rolled into balls
Crunch + extras (choose 1-3)
- candied pecans or walnuts
- pepitas pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
Other Ornaments
- mandarins segmented (super festive)
- sweet mini bell peppers sliced
Easy balsamic dressing (simple + classic) Feel free to use your favorite dressing.
- ¼-1/2 cup olive oil
- 2-4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 small garlic clove grated
- ½ teaspoon salt adjsut to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash the greens. If using kale, massage it with a tiny drizzle of olive oil + pinch of salt.
- Toss the greens with a handful of the mix-ins so every bite gets the goods.
- Shape the wreath. Use your hands to form a big ring, leaving an empty hole in the middle (Tip: a bowl in the center helps as a mold).
- Decorate the wreath by sprinkling the remaining colorful toppings on top for that festive, "ornament" look
- Make the dressing. Then add dressing right before serving or place it in the center of the wreath for people to add as they serve themselves.
Regi Pearce says
I make this Christmas Wreath Salad for gatherings, and it is always easy to assemble, super festive, and everyone loves the presentation. I make a couple of smaller wreaths with different toppings and dressings for variety.