Here is something surprising. Brussels sprouts and kale actually taste sweeter after a frost, because the cold turns some of their starches into sugar. Winter is secretly salad season!
I know, I know. When it is dark at 5 pm, a bowl of greens is not the first thing you crave. But citrus is at its peak right now, and roasted squash, beets and crunchy apples are everywhere.
So I rounded up 6 winter salad recipes that are bright, hearty and anything but boring. Grab a fork!
Winter Salad Recipes – Table of Contents
Winter Citrus Salad with Honey Dressing – Bright Winter Salad Ideas
Mark Bittman asks for just one thing here: let go of the idea that salads must be green. His citrus salad layers wheels of blood oranges or tangerines, pink grapefruit and navel orange, topped with chopped red onion or shallot.
A quick dressing of olive oil, sherry vinegar, a touch of honey and tarragon ties it all together in about 10 minutes. Bittman calls it an antidote to sorry-looking lettuce, and if you spot pomelos, he recommends using them too.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Just 7 ingredients and 15 minutes! Jeanine from Love and Lemons shares this recipe from her first book and calls it her go-to throw-together winter salad. Shaved Brussels sprouts get tossed with lemon, olive oil, toasted pine nuts, dried cranberries, pecorino and chives.
The best part? The hearty sprouts hold up even when dressed ahead of time, so you can prep it hours before a holiday party or pack it for lunch. Bright lemon, tart cranberries and salty cheese make it simple yet addictive.
Kale Salad with Pecans, Cranberries and Goat Cheese – Hearty Winter Salads
This one is based on a salad originally served at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The author admits she was not always a kale fan, but massaging the leaves with a little salt made her a kale lover, with tender, bright green leaves that are not bitter at all.
Green apple, fennel, pecans, dried cranberries and goat cheese bring crunch and tang, while a sweet Lemon Maple Dressing with Dijon and thyme pulls it all together. She even says she usually skips toasting the pecans.
Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
Jean Carnahan roasts whole beets in a foil packet for about an hour until tender, then dices them and scatters them over mixed greens with walnuts and creamy goat cheese. The result is colorful and eye appealing.
A honey Dijon vinaigrette with shallots and wine vinegar adds sweetness and zing. Her smart tip: dress the greens first and plate the toppings separately, because tossing everything together would turn the whole salad pink.
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette – Cozy Winter Salad Recipes
From Ina Garten’s cookbook Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics, this salad combines maple-roasted butternut squash and dried cranberries with peppery baby arugula, toasted walnuts and plenty of freshly grated Parmesan.
The star is the warm vinaigrette: apple cider, cider vinegar and shallots are reduced on the stove, then whisked with Dijon and olive oil. It is vegetarian, gluten free and a lovely starter for entertaining or a weeknight.
Apple Walnut Salad
Salads at big holiday meals are easy to pass over, but this one is designed to stand out. Crisp apple slices, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries and gorgonzola, goat cheese or feta sit on a bed of arugula and slightly bitter Belgian endive.
The surprise is a maple dressing with a touch of cinnamon that makes the walnuts taste almost candied. You can prep all the ingredients up to 1 day ahead, then dress and toss right before serving.
Conclusion
Winter salads do not have to be sad bowls of limp lettuce. With juicy citrus, frost-sweetened Brussels sprouts and kale, roasted beets and squash, and crunchy apples, the cold months are full of color and flavor.
Whether you need a 10-minute side, a make-ahead dish for a holiday party or a cozy starter with a warm vinaigrette, these 6 recipes have you covered. Mix and match dressings and toppings, too!
Which one will you try first? Pick your favorite, make it this week and let me know in the comments how it turned out!