Description
A festive and colorful Christmas Wreath Salad featuring fresh arugula, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions, candied pecans, pomegranate seeds, and mozzarella pearls arranged beautifully to resemble a holiday wreath. Perfect for holiday gatherings and easy to prepare ahead.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cucumber – sliced into thin quarters
- 10 oz. cherry tomatoes – sliced in half
- 1 small red onion – thinly sliced into rings
- ½ cup candied pecans
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds (arils)
- 5 oz. arugula
- ½ cup mozzarella pearls
Instructions
- Arrange Arugula: On a 12.5-inch round platter or plate, place a 6 oz. ramekin or small bowl in the center to create a wreath shape and arrange 5 oz. of arugula evenly around the ramekin as the base layer.
- Layer Onions and Cucumbers: Starting with the sliced red onion rings, arrange them evenly around the arugula, followed by placing the thinly quartered cucumbers on top, then sprinkle with ½ cup of candied pecans for a sweet crunch.
- Add Cherry Tomatoes and Pomegranate Seeds: Neatly place the sliced cherry tomatoes on top of the layered vegetables, then evenly sprinkle ¼ cup pomegranate seeds over the salad to add color and bursts of flavor.
- Incorporate Mozzarella Pearls: Stagger ¼ cup mozzarella pearls throughout the salad between the other ingredients to simulate snowballs, enhancing the festive look and taste.
- Serve or Refrigerate: Remove the ramekin to complete the wreath look. Cover the salad tightly with cellophane and refrigerate until ready to serve, keeping the arugula fresh and crisp.
Notes
- You can prepare this salad several hours in advance if covered tightly with cellophane and refrigerated to prevent wilting.
- If mozzarella pearls are unavailable, substitute with chunky feta cheese for a similar ‘snowball’ effect.
- Use a non-creamy dressing such as Apple Cider Vinaigrette to maintain the fresh and clean appearance of the salad.
- The salad is best served chilled to keep the ingredients crisp and fresh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
