This easy Winter Salad celebrates the best produce winter has to offer. A bed of mixed greens tossed with purple cabbage and topped with grapes, pears, cranberries, feta, and roasted nuts is finished off with a Homemade Dijon dressing for a salad that is full of contrasting textures and flavors.
The Perfect Winter Salad
When it comes to salad recipes, most people think of spring and summer as the best time to make salads.
And while I agree that the seasonal produce in the spring and summer months is much more plentiful and diverse, winter produce has a lot to offer when it comes to making a delicious salad as well.
While I may not have tender berries or vine-ripened tomatoes in the winter, pears, red cabbage, mixed greens, and grapes are in season and easy to find.
Tossed with tender greens, the contrast from crunchy cabbage to the sweet pears and grapes creates a salad that is fresh and flavorful. Finished with a slightly sweet and tangy Dijon dressing, this Winter Salad is one of my all-time favorite salads.
Notes on Ingredients
- Greens: Use any tender greens you like, such as spinach, argula, red or green leaf lettuce.
- Cabbage: Both red and green cabbage work in this salad, but I love the vibrant purple color of the red cabbage (anyone else wonder why not call it purple cabbage?!)
- Pears: Anjou or Bosc pears are the easiest to find in the winter months around me, but any firm pear will work in this winter salad recipe.
- Grapes: While green grapes will work, I prefer the sweetness purple grapes lend to the salad.
- Feta: The saltiness from the feta adds a delicious bite and texture to the salad, but feel free to omit to keep this salad dairy-free.
- Nuts: Adding toasted nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, add a delicious crunch to the salad. However, feel free to leave the nuts off the salad.
- Dijon Dressing: This dressing is made with maple syrup, balsamic vinegar olive oil, and Dijon mustard for a simple dressing that is perfectly compliments the produce in this winter salad.
How to Prepare a Seasonal Winter Salad
- If using nuts, toast them by heating a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add the nuts and toss for 2-3 minutes, just until your nose begins to smell the nuts.
- Prepare the Dijon dressing by whisking together the maple syrup, mustard, balsamic, olive oil, salt, and pepper together.
- Toss the greens with sliced cabbage and place in a large serving bowl. Top with the diced pears, sliced grapes, and dried cranberries.
- Drizzle the salad with the prepared dressing, tossing to coat.
- Sprinkle with the toasted nuts and feta and serve immediately.
Storage
This winter salad is best served immediately after tossing. However, feel free to prepare the dressing and greens up to 48 hours in advance. Wait to add the fruit, nuts, and dress the salad just before serving, to prevent soggy nuts, browned pears, and wilted lettuce.
Serving Suggestions
This seasonal winter salad is delicious paired with just about any meal, whether a fancy steak dinner or a cozy soup.
If you tried this Winter Salad with Dijon Dressing, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.
Winter Salad with Dijon Dressing
Ingredients
Winter Salad Recipe
- ¼ cup walnuts or pecans optional
- 9 ounces mixed greens or spinach
- ½ small head purple cabbage sliced
- 1 large pear diced
- 1-2 cups red grapes sliced in half
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup feta cheese
Maple Dijon Dressing
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh pepper
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Toast the nuts over a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until your nose smells the nuts.
- For the dressing, mix together the vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, oil, salt and pepper. Set aside until serving.
- Toss together the mixed greens, cabbage, cranberries, pears, and grapes. Add the feta and nuts to the salad and dress with the dressing. Serve immediately.
pam (Sidewalk Shoes)
What a gorgeous salad!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so so much!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Pam.
Joanie @ ZagLeft
I love all the flavors and colors in this salad and I've got to get my hands on fig balsamic - how wonderful!
Kristen Chidsey
Fig Balsamic is insanely delicious.
Barbara Bianchi
I just love fruit in my salad and I definitely want to try your fig balsamic. It sounds heavenly. Looking forward to Spring!
Kristen Chidsey
Barbara--I can not wait for Spring myself. I have a feeling you will love fig balsamic!
Susan | LunaCafe
Love all these colors, textures, and flavors. What a beautiful salad!
Kristen Chidsey
The more you textures you have in a salad--the better!
Amanda Cross
This salad looks delicious and bright. I love throwing together random ingredients from the fridge. It is crazy the meals you can make al the while thinking you have nothing in the fridge to eat. I am definitely pinning this!
Kristen Chidsey
It is always mind blowing to see what you can do with a bit of creativity!
Catherine
Dear Kristen, Your salad is marvelous. I love the dressing...this is a perfect dish for a spring gathering. xo, Catherine
Kristen Chidsey
Catherine, Very true. This would be great for Easter brunch or a women's luncheon/shower.
Lauren @ Wicked Spatula
What a fantastic salad! I love fruit in a savory salad with balsamic!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Lauren.
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
Such a beautiful salad, but I've got to admit that I'm super excited over the dressing! Love figs and this sounds so good! Love it!
Kristen Chidsey
The dressing is the BEST part!
Valerie Hoff DeCarlo
That looks lovely! I'm going to try, my family loves fresh vegetables too!
Kristen Chidsey
I hope your family really enjoys it Valerie!
Brittany
So much texture and color in this salad! One of my favorite things about it! Yum!
Kristen Chidsey
Textures in all the food we eat is so important!