Colorful Salad Recipes to Complete Your Christmas Menu

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Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower When it comes to Christmas meals, we’re typically thinking about all the helpings of ham or turkey and green bean casserole that we’ll be enjoying. There’s one other star of the Christmas table that doesn’t get quite as much appreciation as it should: the Christmas […]

Click here to view original web page at www.southernliving.com


Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower
Cheese Sauce over Cauliflower

When it comes to Christmas meals, we're typically thinking about all the helpings of ham or turkey and green bean casserole that we'll be enjoying. There's one other star of the Christmas table that doesn't get quite as much appreciation as it should: the Christmas salad. No holiday meal is complete without a classic recipe like gracing the table, and don't even get us started on all the possibilities for . We don't know who originally thought to add gelatin to a salad, but they have our thanks. Make Grandma's heart sing with a retro Emerald Salad or swap out the typical cranberry salad for a Cranberry Fluff Salad instead. There's also plenty of opportunity to add a little extra green to the holiday spread. Try the Collard Green Salad with Oranges and Port-Soaked Cherries and thank us later. Even though Summer is the true winner for seasonal produce, there are still plenty of opportunities to use fresh winter produce in a salad. We love the Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad as a vibrant addition to the Christmas spread. Take part of the load off Mama's plate this year and offer to make one of these Christmas salad recipes. Be warned, your new signature dish might have a permanent place on the sideboard.

Christmas Salad
Credit: Alison Miksch

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You can prep all the ingredients for this salad before the big Christmas feast, so the only thing you need do when it's time to eat is toss them all together with the warm vinaigrette.

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Root vegetables are a no-brainer addition to any holiday feast. The caramelized pineapple and crunchy apple chunks are a delicious topping with the lemon dressing.

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Serve this salad as a light appetizer course before loading up plates with the holiday staples. You could even add a seasonal twist with dried cranberries and nuts as a topping.

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Take advantage of citrus season this winter and show off the potential of raw collard greens in this sweet, tangy salad. The port-soaked cherries are the true stars of the show and add holiday molasses flavor to the dish.

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You can make this salad up to three days in advance and store it in the fridge until ready to be served. One Test Kitchen professional said this version was so much better than the canned option.

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Looking for a nice crunch to pair with your other holiday dishes? This slaw-like salad is bright and crisp with an easy-to-make vinaigrette that adds just the right amount of tart flavor to the fresh veggies.

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Chances are that you've had this classic cold pasta dish. With a few chopped veggies and salty ham, you can't go wrong adding this to your holiday spread.

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You're sure to turn a few heads with this retro congealed salad on your appetizer table. Why not turn two classic Southern staples – egg salad and congealed salad – into a new dish?

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Although this salad is hearty enough to serve as a fresh winter dinner, we think it'd make a great side dish on your Christmas table. Creamy goat cheese crumbles and citrus make for a delicious sharp and sweet flavor combination.

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This was the first congealed salad recipe to appear in Southern Living, so it holds a special place in our cooking hearts. Serve it with your other holiday desserts for a throwback citrus moment this year.

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Vibrant and packed full of flavor you'll want to add this salad to your Instagram feed before digging in. The beets and citrus contrast for a great texture and flavor combination.

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Ever thought of adding a bit of heat to cranberry salad? Neither had we – until we tried this twist on classic cranberry salad. Ginger and black pepper add heat that perfectly blends with the sweetness of apples and tart cranberry flavors in your favorite holiday side dish.

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The flavor in this salad changes with every bite. It's like a choose-your-own-adventure for your taste buds. One moment you'll be enjoying a delicious crispy Granny Smith apple and next you'll get a kick of paprika from candied pecans.

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One Test Kitchen professional said this cranberry salad recipe was so good that you could spoon it over ice cream and enjoy it as dessert. Two dishes in one? We're all about it.

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